The blog How To Japonese should appeal to anyone studying intermediate and advanced Japanese, but don't expect structured step-by-step courses. Launched in 2008 by Daniel Morales, a New Orleanian who first came to Japan in 2002 and currently works as a translation coordinator in Tokyo, the blog pretty much comprises whatever crosses Morales' radar. What ties it all together is his fascination with the curiosities, idiosyncrasies and beauty of nihongo. While he excels in deconstructing unusual kanji or pointing out common mistakes made by native English-speakers, one post-category in particular neatly sums up his advice on learning Japanese: "Get used to it!" In between tips, Morales weaves in topics such as his latest favorite Japanese beer or his admiration for best-selling author Haruki Murakami. And in case you were wondering why it's spelled Japonese, keep reading.
When did you first begin How to Japonese and what inspired you to start it?
I first started it in March 2008. I wrote a couple articles for the Fukushima JETs newsletter and had a lot of fun thinking about how I'd learned the language and the little tricks I'd picked up along the way. I figured it might make an interesting blog.