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STATUS UPDATES

Feb 11, 2017
Transported to Battleship Island - JOK Notebook

Writing about kanji always transports me to unexpected and wonderful places, one path leading to another and then another. So it was with es...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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

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

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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)     ...

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JOK Notebook
  • The Kanji of the Year, 災
  • The Wonderful Wolves of Yumiko Kayukawa
  • Kudan
  • A Trip Around the World
  • Purity, Snazzy Dressers, and a Mended Lid for Every Cracked Pot
  • Completing the Circle
  • Tokyo Banana and a Matcha Madeleine
  • Fish Tales
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What's New
  • Now Out: Essay 1378 on 循 (circulation) and 6 Revisions
  • Now Out: Essay 1978 on 蓋 (cover)
  • Now Out: September Newsletter, "Celebrating 500 Essays!"
  • Now Out: Essay 1346 on 朱 (vermilion) and 12 Revisions
  • Now Out: Essay 1629 on 徹 (to go through), the 500th Essay!!!
  • Now Out: Essay 1355 on 秀 (excellent), 2 Radical Notes, and 10 Revisions
  • Now Out: August Newsletter, "Mission Accomplished!" Plus the CFK E-Book!
  • Now Out: Essay 1956 on 萎 (to wither)
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  • 13 of 103
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On Deck
  • Coming Next: Essay 1050 on 暇 (free time)
  • Coming Next: Essay 1527 on 槽 (tank; tub)
  • Coming Next: December 2023 Newsletter
  • Coming Next: Essay 1667 on 凸 (convex; forehead)
  • Coming Next: Essay 1396 on 宵 (early evening)
  • Coming Next: Essay 1351 on 寿 (congratulations)
  • Coming Next: November 2023 Newsletter
  • Coming Next: Essay 1705 on 鉢 (bowl; flowerpot; crown of head)
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  • 10 of 81
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