Log In
Welcome!
  • HOME
  • JOIN US
  • ESSAYS
  • JOKIA
  • ACCOUNT
  • KAIMONO
my cart (0)
Share |
  • FAQ About JOK
  • Purchasing Information
  • Express Checkout
  • Who We Are
  • Guide to the PDFs
  • Glossary
  • Renshu Resources
  • Great Wall of Kanji
  • Crazy for Kanji
  • Status Updates
  • Testimonials
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

STATUS UPDATES

Feb 4, 2017
Place Name Problems - JOK Notebook

Well, now I've seen it all! Over in Hiroshima Prefecture, the city of Kure has created a dancing animated kanji! The character is 呉 (くれ), the name of the city, and it's part of a 32,000,000...

READ MORE
Jan 27, 2017
Konfusion - JOK Notebook

Today I'll share a random assortment of words that have confused me in recent days. For some reason, almost all begin with k! 

1. Kakeru

If 鼻 means...

READ MORE
Jan 21, 2017
Clinging Like a Koala - JOK Notebook

It's unusual to find a piece of writing that goes to the core of one's deepest concerns. It's rarer still to find writing that reminds you of what your deepest concerns are and perhaps...

READ MORE
Jan 14, 2017
Wit as a Weapon - JOK Notebook

Welcome back from the holiday break, and Happy New Year!

Or is it not so happy? As we head into a time that feels dark and unappealing, many of us are deep...

READ MORE
Dec 29, 2016
Crossing the Line: A Final Look at "Womansword" - JOK Notebook

We're about to cross two lines. First, there's the finish line to run, walk, or crawl across as work ends for the year. Second, there's the line separating...

READ MORE
Dec 24, 2016
Sleep Like a Kanji: "Womansword," Round 3 - JOK Notebook

For the third week in a row, I'm indulging my endless fascination with Kittredge Cherry's wonderful book Womansword: W...

READ MORE
Dec 17, 2016
"Womansword" Again and Kanji Pictionary - JOK Notebook

Last week I sang the praises of Kittredge Cherry's book ...

READ MORE
Dec 10, 2016
"Womansword": A First Look at the 30th Anniversary Edition - JOK Notebook

I remember loving Kittredge Cherry's book Womansword: What Japanese Words Say About Women, which examines Japanes...

READ MORE
Dec 3, 2016
Out of This World - JOK Notebook

The past week brought me kanji experiences that were out of this world!

Skywriting with Squid Ink

I checked out the movie Arrival with two friends. The plot rev...

READ MORE
Nov 19, 2016
Of Tide and Time - JOK Notebook

There are times when all roads seem to lead, not to Rome, but rather to the same kanji. This week that kanji was 潮 (941: tide). 

How appropriate that as the whole world seems to be fla...

READ MORE
Nov 12, 2016
Think Happy Thoughts - JOK Notebook

What a week it's been. Actually, more like a half week, but it has dragged on and on. In the aftermath of Trump's election, most people in my Facebook circle are contending with frayed nerv...

READ MORE
Nov 5, 2016
Kanji Distraction - JOK Notebook

For a lot of reasons lately, I've needed to distract myself from reality. A Quick Quiz is a great way of doing that! So let's lose ourselves in kanji.

1....

READ MORE
Oct 29, 2016
Derogatory Dogs and Well-Respected Legs - JOK Notebook

I'm usually not drawn to long chains of kanji that lack interstitial hiragana. They indicate too little about how to break up the string into meaningful bits. However, the following phrase from...

READ MORE
Oct 22, 2016
Slippery as a Noodle - JOK Notebook

This week I came upon a great word. But before I tell you why it's so great, I'll let you guess! Here it is:

四角四面 (しかくしめん)     ...

READ MORE
Oct 15, 2016
Return to Wonderland - JOK Notebook

We haven't done a Quick Quiz here in awhile, and I think it's high time. When I choose words for a quiz, it's because they have given me a sense of wonder. I could use a sense of wonder...

READ MORE
  • ‹‹
  • 8 of 24
  • ››
JOK Notebook
  • Close to Me
  • Gridlike Curves, Absurd Fears, and the Folds of a Mountain
  • To See a Suribachi
  • A Slog, a Squeal, and Sushi
  • The Sound of the Sea
  • Interpreting the New Era Name 令和
  • Starting Point
  • When the Eye Strays
  • « first
  • ‹ previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • …
  • next ›
  • last »
What's New
  • Now Out: Radical Note 3 on the "Dot" Radical and 5 New-Monics
  • Now Out: Essay 1689 on 梅 (Japanese apricot) and 5 New-Monics
  • Now Out: Essay 1827 on 凡 (mediocre), 6 New-Monics, and Origami Magazine
  • Now Out: Essay 1100 on 勘 (intuitive perception) and 6 New-Monics
  • Now Out: October 2020 Newsletter, "Blue Moon"
  • Now Out: Radical Note 16 on the "Table" Radical
  • Now Out: Essay 1964 on 怨 (Grudge)
  • Now Out: Essay 1372 on 瞬 (Moment)
  • ‹‹
  • 3 of 70
  • ››
On Deck
  • May Newsletter Is Coming Next!
  • Essay 1856 on 黙 (silent) Is Coming Next
  • Radical Note 14 on 冖 Is Coming Next
  • Essay 1330 on 軸 (axis; axle) Is Coming Next
  • Essay 1618 on 逓 (to relay) Is Coming Next
  • April Newsletter Is Coming Next, Followed by Essay 2135 on 瑠 (lapis lazuli)
  • Essay 1739 on 漂 (to drift, float) Is Coming Next
  • Essay 2130 on 藍 (Indigo) Is Coming Next
  • ‹‹
  • 6 of 53
  • ››
View Archive

Privacy Policy