Hey! Thanks for coming to the session on Thursday - I loved seeing you lot learning and enjoying something new. It's given me a few more ideas relating to next year for sure. Ariana and I have created a blog just for you lot. Called Confetti Japan (Minasan Konnichiwa) it seeks to update you continually on the session, languages and culture. Please add to your dashboard and enjoy!

From Vero, In My Own Nerds

Thanks to a tip from Games TM magazine, I found this really awesome blog right here on Blogger. Why is it awesome? Well, it's just for you dudes that fancy working and living in Japan after your games course(s). C.O. is gonna love it!

Clicky

'Nuff said. Enjoy!

Oh, and er, there's a lovely Japanese season on BBC Four for the next few weeks. Last night was Marcel Theroux's Search for Wabi Sabi and already they've played Kikujiro (a bloody ace film) and a drama-doc on Ping Pong (which I thought was Chinese)

Finally, Japanese lessons. It all went a bit quiet didn't it? Well, I think that Nobelus Darkus and Craigly McBrainerson being in Berlin didn't help... Don't worry though, I for one haven't forgotten and I'll be flying the flag for you. I'm just so sorry about the delay!!!

I love this story, so I thought I'd share it with you...

DS made essential in Japanese schools

Elementary and middle schools in Osaka, Japan are distributing free Nintendo DS consoles among students to aid learning.

The Osaka Board of Education made the devices mandatory in January, with software such as Brain Age and My Japanese Coach being put to practical use in classrooms.

Critics of the scheme have expressed their anger at taxpayers' money ending up in Nintendo's pockets, and the potential for students to abuse the scheme.