http://www.ispeakjapanese.net Learn Japanese language and culture online! Sat, 30 Apr 2011 05:11:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 en ©Happy Hour Japan info@japaneseaccelerator.com (Happy Hour Japan) info@japaneseaccelerator.com(Happy Hour Japan) Japanese Language and Culture 1440 speak japanese, learn japanese, japan, japanese culture, japan culture, japanese Learn Japanese language and culture and have fun at the same time! Learn Japanese online. Hang out with Aaron and Kevin as they talk about and teach Japanese language and culture through their own personal experiences with both. Fun and casual-- join the madness! Happy Hour Japan Happy Hour Japan info@japaneseaccelerator.com No no http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/images/happy-hour-japan-logo_small.gif http://www.ispeakjapanese.net 144 144 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/hhj-earthquake-special-part-2/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/hhj-earthquake-special-part-2/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2011 05:11:14 +0000 Aaron http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1060 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/hhj-earthquake-special-part-2/feed/ 00:01:01 Here is the second half of our earthquake special. We hope you don't mind that it's a bit long. Although it's almost been two months since ... Here is the second half of our earthquake special. We hope you don't mind that it's a bit long. Although it's almost been two months since the earthquake, the recovery efforts are still ongoing. Please continue to keep Japan in your thoughts. Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/hhj-earthquake-special-part/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/hhj-earthquake-special-part/#comments Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:06:31 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1057 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/hhj-earthquake-special-part/feed/ 00:01:01 Hi everyone, It's been one month since the big earthquake in Japan (referred to as 東日本大震災 (Higashi-Nihon Dai-Shinsai) here in Japan). Aaron #38; I finally had a ... Hi everyone, It's been one month since the big earthquake in Japan (referred to as 東日本大震災 (Higashi-Nihon Dai-Shinsai) here in Japan). Aaron #38; I finally had a second to sit down and discuss what it was like before and after the earthquake. We ended up having WAAAAAAY too much to talk about and couldn't fit everything in one episode. In fact, I had to cut out over half of it just to keep it down to a 2 part episode. Part I is all about the earthquake itself--what it felt like, what we were doing, etc. Part II (which will posted in the next week or two) will be all about what happened after the earthquake--the food shortages, power outages, radiation, etc. We hope things here in Japan will return back to normal soon and we continue to send our thoughts to those who have suffered so much over the last month. Best, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/an-update-from-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/an-update-from-japan/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:58:27 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1054 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/an-update-from-japan/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/why-are-aaron-kevin-wearing-masks/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/why-are-aaron-kevin-wearing-masks/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:13:37 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1050 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/why-are-aaron-kevin-wearing-masks/feed/ 00:01:01 あけましておめでとうございます！Happy New Year! (...sorry we're a little late)nbsp; 今年もよろしくお願い致します。 Hope you're having a great start to 2011! Aaron and I are back with our latest episode of HHJ! ... あけましておめでとうございます！Happy New Year! (...sorry we're a little late)nbsp; 今年もよろしくお願い致します。 Hope you're having a great start to 2011! Aaron and I are back with our latest episode of HHJ! And we're wearing masks... Why? Watch and find out ;) Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/who-says-white-guys-cant-taiko/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/who-says-white-guys-cant-taiko/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:45:24 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1040 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/who-says-white-guys-cant-taiko/feed/ 00:01:01 The video you've all been waiting for! It's Aaron's Taiko debut. I'll leave it at that. Enjoy! Kanpai, Kevin The video you've all been waiting for! It's Aaron's Taiko debut. I'll leave it at that. Enjoy! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/who-wants-to-see-aaron-play-taiko/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/who-wants-to-see-aaron-play-taiko/#comments Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:59:36 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1029 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/who-wants-to-see-aaron-play-taiko/feed/ 00:01:01 Hello there, Thanks for visiting us at ispeakjapanse.net. As promised in our last episode, today we're going to talk about why we haven't been drinking much ... Hello there, Thanks for visiting us at ispeakjapanse.net. As promised in our last episode, today we're going to talk about why we haven't been drinking much on HHJ recently. PLUS, Aaron shares some of adventures tackling the world of Taiko here in Japan! Enjoy! Kevin P.S. If you're one of the people out there who haven't tried our free Japanese Quickstart course yet, what are you waiting for? Check it out here. Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/you-scratch-my-back-and-ill-scratch-yours-japanese-style/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/you-scratch-my-back-and-ill-scratch-yours-japanese-style/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:29:49 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1020 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/you-scratch-my-back-and-ill-scratch-yours-japanese-style/feed/ 00:01:01 We're back with another episode of HHJ! In this episode, Aaron and I revive our old HHJ style with drinks on the couch :) We'll discuss ... We're back with another episode of HHJ! In this episode, Aaron and I revive our old HHJ style with drinks on the couch :) We'll discuss favors in Japan and how important they are in everyday life here. We also talk a little bit about Japanese weddings! Kanpai! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/what-happens-in-the-purikura-booth-stays-in-the-purikura-booth/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/what-happens-in-the-purikura-booth-stays-in-the-purikura-booth/#comments Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:53:17 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=1007 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/what-happens-in-the-purikura-booth-stays-in-the-purikura-booth/feed/ 00:01:01 Howdy everyone. We are BACK with our latest episode of HHJ! In this episode, we wanted to respond some viewer requests to showcase Japanese game centers. ... Howdy everyone. We are BACK with our latest episode of HHJ! In this episode, we wanted to respond some viewer requests to showcase Japanese game centers. It's pretty loud and the video's a little shaky, but I hope you get a sense for what it's like. We even show you what's it's like inside a Japanese Purikura booth. Watch as we enjoy Sweet Sugar time (...you'll get what we mean when you watch the episode)! Sit back and enjoy :) Kanpai! Aaron #38; Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/deadly-summer-heat-zip-lines-yippee/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/deadly-summer-heat-zip-lines-yippee/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:54:38 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=995 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/deadly-summer-heat-zip-lines-yippee/feed/ 00:01:01 It is HOT in Japan right now. In fact, it's been like this all summer. Aaron and I have been doing our best to stay ... It is HOT in Japan right now. In fact, it's been like this all summer. Aaron and I have been doing our best to stay cool but it's been tough. In this episode, Aaron and I will take you to a sports park. Come along with us as we talk the heat, teach you some Japanese words, and race on zip lines! Who won?? You'll have to watch to find out ;) Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/welcome-to-the-dark-side/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/welcome-to-the-dark-side/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:38:17 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=992 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/welcome-to-the-dark-side/feed/ 00:01:01 Hi everyone! Sorry for not posting in a while. I hope you're doing well! It's been EXTREMELY hot here in Japan and there's been some world-class ... Hi everyone! Sorry for not posting in a while. I hope you're doing well! It's been EXTREMELY hot here in Japan and there's been some world-class lightning shows almost every night. Pretty amazing stuff. Anyway, in our latest episode of HHJ, Aaron and I want to discuss one of the dark sides of living to Japan. What is it? Well, you'll just have to watch to find out ;) Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/look-out-theres-a-ninja-on-the-roof/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/look-out-theres-a-ninja-on-the-roof/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:58:03 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=985 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/look-out-theres-a-ninja-on-the-roof/feed/ 00:01:01 Hi everyone! Aaron and I are back for another Happy Hour Japan episode. In this episode, we'll take you to a Shinto Shrine and a Buddhist ... Hi everyone! Aaron and I are back for another Happy Hour Japan episode. In this episode, we'll take you to a Shinto Shrine and a Buddhist Temple. We'll show you what both of them are like and point out some of the differences. Enjoy! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/tokyo-exposed-shibuya/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/tokyo-exposed-shibuya/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:38:44 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=976 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/tokyo-exposed-shibuya/feed/ 00:01:01 In this episode, Aaron and I get dressed up and head out to see Shibuya in all of it's neon glory. No more explanation needed. Kanpai, Kevin In this episode, Aaron and I get dressed up and head out to see Shibuya in all of it's neon glory. No more explanation needed. Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/how-to-get-kicked-out-of-japanese-grocery-store/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/how-to-get-kicked-out-of-japanese-grocery-store/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 08:31:57 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=969 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/how-to-get-kicked-out-of-japanese-grocery-store/feed/ 00:01:01 Welcome back to Happy Hour Japan Season 2! In this short episode, Aaron and I will take you inside a Japanese スーパー (supermarket/grocery store). Not only ... Welcome back to Happy Hour Japan Season 2! In this short episode, Aaron and I will take you inside a Japanese スーパー (supermarket/grocery store). Not only will we show you what it's like to shop in a grocery store in Japan, but we'll also show you a great example on how to get kicked out of one :) Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/when-you-eat-ramen-in-japan-dont-forget-to-slurp/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/when-you-eat-ramen-in-japan-dont-forget-to-slurp/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 04:53:15 +0000 kevin 1095682378 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/when-you-eat-ramen-in-japan-dont-forget-to-slurp/feed/ 00:01:01 Welcome back for our first real episode of Happy Hour Japan Season 2! Today, Aaron and I are going to take you on a short trip ... Welcome back for our first real episode of Happy Hour Japan Season 2! Today, Aaron and I are going to take you on a short trip to a Ramen shop to show you what it's like and introduce some key works and phrases that you'll want to know. Ramen is super popular in Japan is definitely worth checking out when you visit. No beers in this episode unfortunately, but Kanpai anyway! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/happy-hour-japan-is-back-and-better-than-ever/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/happy-hour-japan-is-back-and-better-than-ever/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:28:44 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=932 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/happy-hour-japan-is-back-and-better-than-ever/feed/ 00:01:01 Top off your glasses and get your kanpai-face on because Happy Hour Japan is finally back for Season 2! In Season 2, Happy Hour Japan ... Top off your glasses and get your kanpai-face on because Happy Hour Japan is finally back for Season 2! In Season 2, Happy Hour Japan will focus more on taking you around Japan and teaching you Japanese as well as showcasing Japanese culture. But I'm sure you have tons of questions on your mind like: What's the new format? Is it going to be a one man show? Has Kevin found "someone else?" Rest assured, all of your questions will be answered in the Season Opener! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/oh-yeah-its-bento-time/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/oh-yeah-its-bento-time/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:15:50 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=921 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/oh-yeah-its-bento-time/feed/ 8:00 Hey! The cherry blossoms have started blooming here in Japan which means Spring is finally here! The weather's warming up, kids are gearing up for the ... Hey! The cherry blossoms have started blooming here in Japan which means Spring is finally here! The weather's warming up, kids are gearing up for the new school year, and mothers are rushing to the store to pick up the latest bento goods! Wait...bento goods? Yes, bento goods! Have you ever heard of deko-ben or kyara-ben?!? If not, this episode is a MUST SEE! -Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/how-to/how-japanese-are-you/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/how-to/how-japanese-are-you/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:40:58 +0000 kevin 1343928890 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/how-to/how-japanese-are-you/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/how-to/are-you-a-sushi-samurai-find-out-with-the-ultimate-sushi-quiz/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/how-to/are-you-a-sushi-samurai-find-out-with-the-ultimate-sushi-quiz/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:42:10 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=891 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/how-to/are-you-a-sushi-samurai-find-out-with-the-ultimate-sushi-quiz/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/whats-your-favorite-blooper/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/whats-your-favorite-blooper/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:43:51 +0000 kevin 2027857621 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/whats-your-favorite-blooper/feed/ 10:00 I was archiving some old videos when I realized that we still hadn't made a bloopers video yet! I know it might be hard to believe, ... I was archiving some old videos when I realized that we still hadn't made a bloopers video yet! I know it might be hard to believe, but Aaron and I make A LOT of mistakes filming HHJ. lol. I took some of our favorites and put them together in this short compilation video.nbsp;Let us know which blooper you like the best! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/happy-valentines-day-and-white-day/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/happy-valentines-day-and-white-day/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:35:22 +0000 kevin 1890832528 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/happy-valentines-day-and-white-day/feed/ 10:00 Ohisashiburidesu! Sorry for not posting a video in so long, it's been a very busy few weeks. I hope all of you are doing well. In this ... Ohisashiburidesu! Sorry for not posting a video in so long, it's been a very busy few weeks. I hope all of you are doing well. In this episode, I discuss how the Japanese celebrate Valentine's Day. It's a little different than you might be used to. Plus, I introduce a holiday called White Day and what it's all about. Kanpai! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/speekit-is-now-open/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/speekit-is-now-open/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:38:21 +0000 kevin 535532812 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/speekit-is-now-open/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/the-number-1-question-on-everyones-mind/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/the-number-1-question-on-everyones-mind/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:33:55 +0000 kevin 1150718324 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/the-number-1-question-on-everyones-mind/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/our-big-secret-is-out/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/our-big-secret-is-out/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:07:46 +0000 kevin 521666868 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/our-big-secret-is-out/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/opening-the-doors-early/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/opening-the-doors-early/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:10:52 +0000 Aaron 1332755076 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/opening-the-doors-early/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/new-japanese-stuff/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/new-japanese-stuff/#comments Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:58:18 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=848 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/new-japanese-stuff/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/driving-in-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/driving-in-japan/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:06:15 +0000 kevin 1270725837 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/driving-in-japan/feed/ 10:00 Hi everyone, I'm back with another episode! After going on a couple of road trips over the last few weeks, I thought it would be a ... Hi everyone, I'm back with another episode! After going on a couple of road trips over the last few weeks, I thought it would be a good chance to talk about driving in Japan. As a lot of you know, driving isn't the most popular way for travelers to Japan to get from point A to point B. Nevertheless, I still felt it would be worth discussing for those of you out there who are more adventurous and would like to travel somewhere (like to an onsen) that is only accessible by car, as well as for any of you planning to move here. There are definitely a few things to be aware of before getting behind the wheel so be sure to watch this video if you plan to drive in Japan. Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/is-kevin-ok-plus-healthcare-in-japan-and-a-vocab-memorization-tip/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/is-kevin-ok-plus-healthcare-in-japan-and-a-vocab-memorization-tip/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:47:40 +0000 kevin 1093957827 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/is-kevin-ok-plus-healthcare-in-japan-and-a-vocab-memorization-tip/feed/ 5:59 Some of you caught wind of my little accident on the slopes and I started getting emails from viewers like yourself asking if I was ... Some of you caught wind of my little accident on the slopes and I started getting emails from viewers like yourself asking if I was OK. I really appreciate everyone's concern and thought it'd be best to make a quick little video to let you all know I'm doing fine. I also thought this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about my experiences with health care in Japan as well as share a tip I have on learning vocabulary! Kanpai, Kevinnbsp; nbsp; Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/whats-new-years-like-in-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/whats-new-years-like-in-japan/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:19:06 +0000 kevin 660297946 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/whats-new-years-like-in-japan/feed/ 5:59 I know I'm a little late, but here's the latest video on New Year traditions in Japan :) I think I've mentioned it many times already, ... I know I'm a little late, but here's the latest video on New Year traditions in Japan :) I think I've mentioned it many times already, but New Years here in Japan is a really big deal. It's probably the biggest holiday of the year for the Japanese and it comes with a lot of traditions. In this episode, I thought I would pass along some of the traditions (both modern and traditional) that I've encountered in my experiences here in Japan.nbsp; Enjoy! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/riding-the-train-in-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/riding-the-train-in-japan/#comments Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:51:15 +0000 kevin 2001333510 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/riding-the-train-in-japan/feed/ 2:00 あけましておめでとうございます！ I know I'm a little late, but Happy New Year! Thanks for a great 2009 and all the best in 2010! Just the other ... あけましておめでとうございます！ I know I'm a little late, but Happy New Year! Thanks for a great 2009 and all the best in 2010! Just the other day, I was in Tokyo and decided to make this short video about how to ride the train in Japan...afterall it is the most popular form of public transportation. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough footage for a full-blown episode, but you can think of this as the first of many "2-minute topic" videos! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/how-the-japanese-end-the-year/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/how-the-japanese-end-the-year/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:49:29 +0000 kevin 1740744009 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/how-the-japanese-end-the-year/feed/ 11:44 Hi everyone! We're back with another video, but for this episode we decided to take a short break from discussing my move to introduce some Japanese ... Hi everyone! We're back with another video, but for this episode we decided to take a short break from discussing my move to introduce some Japanese culture. Why? Well, with the new year just around the corner, this is one of the busiest times for the Japanese and Aaron and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to tell you why. In this episode we cover the extremely popular "forget the year" parties, Christmas illuminations, end of the year cleaning, and gift-giving. Enjoy! -Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/so-i-got-my-gaijin-card-now-what/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/so-i-got-my-gaijin-card-now-what/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:43:13 +0000 kevin 33749980 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/so-i-got-my-gaijin-card-now-what/feed/ 11:44 Hello again! A BIG thanks to everyone who emailed and commented on the first mini-series video. It seems like a lot of you are enjoying the ... Hello again! A BIG thanks to everyone who emailed and commented on the first mini-series video. It seems like a lot of you are enjoying the content so I'm back with part 2! I just recently got my Gaijin Card so I thought I would step through what I've done since getting my hands on that important piece of plastic. In this episode, I will talk a little bit about opening a bank account in Japan and getting a cell phone. I've received tons of great suggestions on future topics and will try to hit on as many of them as possible here in the upcoming weeks! Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming! Oh, and please be sure to check out our official facebook page that we just opened yesterday! Aaron and I figured this would be a great way to help our community meet each other and grow stronger. For now, we'll be uploading videos from our Happy Hour Japan archives but stay tuned because we also hope to add some new, fun content on our facebook page in the not-to-distant future! Hope to see you there! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/facebook-page-is-u/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/facebook-page-is-u/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:55:35 +0000 Aaron 470505159 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/facebook-page-is-u/feed/ 1:06 Hey there! Long time no see. Kevin and I have been working on getting organized so that we can start posting some good videos again. ... Hey there! Long time no see. Kevin and I have been working on getting organized so that we can start posting some good videos again. In the meantime, we got our act together and put up a Facebook page. If you're in the mood and you're on facebook, fan us! Talk with you soon! Kanpai! Aaron Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/kevin-in-japan-mini-series/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/kevin-in-japan-mini-series/#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:49:59 +0000 kevin 1934154759 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/kevin-in-japan-mini-series/feed/ 11:06 Hi everyone! Ohisashiburidesu! I made it to Japan safely, and this is my first video from my new home! Aaron and I are still trying to figuring ... Hi everyone! Ohisashiburidesu! I made it to Japan safely, and this is my first video from my new home! Aaron and I are still trying to figuring out what our next version of Happy Hour Japan will be like. So in the meantime, I've decided to try creating a simple mini-series about my move to Japan. I know this may not be as entertaining as our Happy Hour Japan videos, but I hope the information I provide will at least be somewhat useful to those of you out there who are planning to travel or move to Japan in the future. In this first video, I talk about preparing to go to Japan and what to do immediately after you arrive. Most of the things I introduce in this first video are fairly basic and obvious, but I plan to cover more interesting topics over time. And a special thanks to all of you out there who sent me messages wishing me luck and for all of you who have sent in your comments and suggestions regarding Happy Hour Japan. We really appreciate it! Until next time! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/the-hhj-finale/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/the-hhj-finale/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:17:12 +0000 kevin 1978779329 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/the-hhj-finale/feed/ 12:53 As the title of this post suggests, this is our last episode of Happy Hour Japan.. ...well, sort of. We will be coming out with an HHJ ... As the title of this post suggests, this is our last episode of Happy Hour Japan.. ...well, sort of. We will be coming out with an HHJ replacement soon, but with me moving to Japan, Aaron and I quickly realized that we wouldn't be able to continue our video blog in its current format. In other words, we will still continue contributing to ispeakjapanese.net (rest assured!), but Happy Hour Japan (in its *current* format) will be coming to an end. What we desperately need from all of you are suggestions! What would you like to see in our next version of HHJ?? Please leave us your comments and we'll try to take all of your suggestions into consideration as we figure out what to do next. In the meantime, be sure to check out our archive of HHJ episodes and feel free to re-live past episodes here on our site. For our final episode (our longest ever!), we invited a few of our close friends to have one big final panel discussion about learning Japanese. We had a great time hanging out with them and really appreciate them coming on the show. They all have unique viewpoints and experiences with the Japanese language so it's a must-see for all of you out there who are interested in (or are currently learning) Japanese. Lastly, we want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been following Happy Hour Japan! Although we will continue with a new format, Aaron and I figured this would a great opportunity to extend a big thank you to all of our supporters and viewers! So thank you #38; kanpai! Kevin PART 1 of 2 PART 2 of 2 Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/travel-japanese/toilets-in-japan-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/travel-japanese/toilets-in-japan-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:51:03 +0000 kevin 977226189 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/travel-japanese/toilets-in-japan-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/feed/ 12:53 Thanks for visiting us at ispeakjapanese.net! Aaron and I are back with our latest episode of Happy Hour Japan. A couple of months ago, we received ... Thanks for visiting us at ispeakjapanese.net! Aaron and I are back with our latest episode of Happy Hour Japan. A couple of months ago, we received an email from one of our viewers asking us to do an HHJ episode on Japanese toilets. At first we thought it might be a little inappropriate, but we've since realized that it's a really important topic to cover...especially if you plan to visit or live in Japan. We'll talk about the high-tech 'washlet' toilets as well as the more traditional eastern-style toilets that have terrorized foreigners visitors to Japan for decades! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan,,Japanese,for,Traveling Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/travel-japanese/going-to-japan-bring-cash/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/travel-japanese/going-to-japan-bring-cash/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:03:16 +0000 kevin 1640971881 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/travel-japanese/going-to-japan-bring-cash/feed/ 12:53 Hi there, and thanks for stopping by! Every time I visit Japan, I inevitably learn or realize something new about the country and its culture. I ... Hi there, and thanks for stopping by! Every time I visit Japan, I inevitably learn or realize something new about the country and its culture. I recently got back from a trip to Japan and this time around was certainly no exception. In fact, I ran into a very unexpected and unfortunate surprise when I ran out of cash while on my trip. Through this experience, I realized just how important cash is in Japan and the troubles visitors to the country often encounter when trying to access their bank accounts back home! If you have any future plans to visit the country, I highly recommend you watch this episode! Kanpai and until next time! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan,,Japanese,for,Traveling Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/have-fun-learning-japanese-a-big-announcement/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/have-fun-learning-japanese-a-big-announcement/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:46:22 +0000 kevin 864185067 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/have-fun-learning-japanese-a-big-announcement/feed/ 7:19 Trust me. We know it can be tough learning Japanese. We've been there. Lately, we've been getting a lot of emails from viewers asking us to ... Trust me. We know it can be tough learning Japanese. We've been there. Lately, we've been getting a lot of emails from viewers asking us to give them advice on how to learn Japanese effectively. In this episode, Aaron and I will talk a little bit about our own experiences learning Japanese and what we've discovered along the way. Hopefully this information will help some of you out there who are struggling with the language and get you back on the right track! Plus, we have a big announcement! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/japanese-vocabulary-words/commonly-mispronounced-japanese-words/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/japanese-vocabulary-words/commonly-mispronounced-japanese-words/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:51:54 +0000 kevin 1792360611 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/japanese-vocabulary-words/commonly-mispronounced-japanese-words/feed/ 7:19 You may not realize it, but you're probably using a lot of Japanese words in day-to-day life. With the rising popularity of Japanese culture, food, ... You may not realize it, but you're probably using a lot of Japanese words in day-to-day life. With the rising popularity of Japanese culture, food, and ideas, we English-speakers are getting more and more exposure to the Japanese language. Don't believe me? How about the words "sake," "samurai," "mottainai," "kaizen," "kimono," "anime"....I'm sure you've used or heard at least a couple of these words recently. Unfortunately, many of these Japanese words are mispronounced by English-speakers :( In this episode, Aaron and I cover just a few of these commonly mispronounced words and go over how they should be pronounced. Although it's not 100% necessary to pronounce Japanese words "authentically" all the time, we figured that it would be good information to pass along to anyone learning Japanese and to those who want to travel to Japan in the future. Enjoy #38; Kanpai! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan,,Japanese,Vocabulary,,Japanese,for,Traveling Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/submit-your-t-shirt-designs/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/submit-your-t-shirt-designs/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:52:31 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=715 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/submit-your-t-shirt-designs/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/the-japanese-language-is-always-changing/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/the-japanese-language-is-always-changing/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:48:14 +0000 kevin 347451507 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/news/the-japanese-language-is-always-changing/feed/ 10:16 Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of Happy Hour Japan! In this episode, Aaron and I discuss how the Japanese language is always changing. ... Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of Happy Hour Japan! In this episode, Aaron and I discuss how the Japanese language is always changing. If you're learning to speak Japanese and decide to travel to Japan, you'll quickly realize there are lots of words and phrases that you've never seen or heard of before. That's because the Japanese language isn't set in stone, but rather evolving (just like English and every other language). Sounds pretty obvious, but we thought it was worth mentioning and discussing with all of you. Also, in this episode we talk about...HHJ logo wear! Kanpai! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan,,News Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/meet-elliott-tom-part-2/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/meet-elliott-tom-part-2/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:35:21 +0000 kevin 441056195 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/meet-elliott-tom-part-2/feed/ 10:53 Here is the second half of our interview with Elliott and Tom! In case you didn't see our previous update, be sure to check out part ... Here is the second half of our interview with Elliott and Tom! In case you didn't see our previous update, be sure to check out part 1 first ;) Thanks again to Elliott and Tom for agreeing to join us on Happy Hour Japan and best of luck to them as they head off to teach English in Japan! Cheers, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan,,teaching Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/meet-elliott-and-tom-2-jets-headed-for-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/meet-elliott-and-tom-2-jets-headed-for-japan/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:13:28 +0000 kevin 1863308724 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/meet-elliott-and-tom-2-jets-headed-for-japan/feed/ 10:55 Hi there! Just the other day, Aaron and I were invited to a local JET Program orientation for this year's outbound JET participants. You won't believe ... Hi there! Just the other day, Aaron and I were invited to a local JET Program orientation for this year's outbound JET participants. You won't believe what happened when we got there.... We were just standing around talking when a guy named Elliott came up to us and told us that he was a viewer of Happy Hour Japan! How crazy is that?! Aaron and I were completely taken by surprise! We ended up inviting him to join us for an episode of Happy Hour Japan...and well, here it is! In this episode, we'll introduce you to Elliott and his friend Tom. Both of them are leaving for Japan on the JET Program later this month. We had a great time talking about Japan and the JET Program--so much so that we couldn't fit it all in just one episode. So we've broken it up into two videos and this is part 1. I hope you enjoy it and stay tuned for part 2 where I'll tell you a really embarrassing story about my JET interview way back when! Until then, Kanpai! Kevin Watch Part 2 Happy,Hour,Japan,,teaching Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/interview-living-in-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/interview-living-in-japan/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:02:22 +0000 kevin 638524200 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/interview-living-in-japan/feed/ 10:36 How's it going? I hope all is well! Rob, who was our special guest last time, was nice enough to hang out with us again for ... How's it going? I hope all is well! Rob, who was our special guest last time, was nice enough to hang out with us again for this episode of Happy Hour Japan. Since Rob lived in Japan for a year, Aaron and I decided to take this opportunity to interview him and ask him what it was like! Watch as we delve into things like culture shock, convenience stores, and man-made islands! Enjoy! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/travel-part-2-plus-a-special-guest/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/travel-part-2-plus-a-special-guest/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:42:00 +0000 kevin 1268931781 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/travel-part-2-plus-a-special-guest/feed/ 12:26 Hey everyone! Sorry for not posting an episode for so long! We got such a great response on our last video, we decided to make back ... Hey everyone! Sorry for not posting an episode for so long! We got such a great response on our last video, we decided to make back to back episodes on travel! In this episode, we cover some of our personal tips for finding good deals on airfare, discuss more on places to stay, and each reveal our favorite season to visit Japan. BONUS!! In this episode we welcome our first guest to Happy Hour Japan, Rob! Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/aaron-and-kevin-on-traveling-to-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/aaron-and-kevin-on-traveling-to-japan/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 06:15:03 +0000 kevin 515035326 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/aaron-and-kevin-on-traveling-to-japan/feed/ 9:01 In this episode, we've taken a suggestion from one of our viewers (Ari) and will talk about traveling to Japan. There's no way we could ... In this episode, we've taken a suggestion from one of our viewers (Ari) and will talk about traveling to Japan. There's no way we could discuss everything we want to cover on this topic in a single episode, so think of this as part 1 of an ongoing series! This time we'll focus on onsen (Japanese hot springs), trains, and a tip on saving money on hotels. Enjoy! Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/the-moment-youve-all-been-waiting-for/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/the-moment-youve-all-been-waiting-for/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 02:46:27 +0000 kevin 1527122820 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/the-moment-youve-all-been-waiting-for/feed/ 5:23 Drum roll please!! Watch as we draw the lucky winner of our omiyage prize!! Plus, learn how to say "congratulations" in Japanese! Thanks to everyone who ... Drum roll please!! Watch as we draw the lucky winner of our omiyage prize!! Plus, learn how to say "congratulations" in Japanese! Thanks to everyone who entered their names into the drawing and for commenting!! We really really appreciate it! So who won?? Well, you'll just have to watch and find out! Kanpai, Kevin Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/update-the-omiyage-drawing-is-over/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/update-the-omiyage-drawing-is-over/#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 04:02:57 +0000 Aaron http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=619 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/update-the-omiyage-drawing-is-over/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/enter-your-name-into-the-omiyage-drawing-by-may-18th/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/enter-your-name-into-the-omiyage-drawing-by-may-18th/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 16:01:43 +0000 kevin http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/?p=589 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/enter-your-name-into-the-omiyage-drawing-by-may-18th/feed/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/enter-to-win-an-omiyage-from-japan/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/enter-to-win-an-omiyage-from-japan/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 03:21:20 +0000 kevin 1941054090 http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/enter-to-win-an-omiyage-from-japan/feed/ 9:01 In this episode, we talk about gift-giving in Japan. Omiyage is an important part of Japanese culture but it can be a little tricky sometimes. ... In this episode, we talk about gift-giving in Japan. Omiyage is an important part of Japanese culture but it can be a little tricky sometimes. We go over the proper way to give and receive omiyage, as well as when you're expected to buy omiyage for others. Speaking of omiyage...I (Kevin) just got back from a short trip to Japan and brought back an omiyage for our Happy Hour Japan viewers! Unfortunately, I only have one so we'll holding a drawing in our next episode for it. If you're interested, comment below and be sure to let me know you want to be entered in the raffle! Cheers!....er, I mean, Kanpai! Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/tokyo-vs-osaka-vote-for-which-city-you-like-better/ http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/tokyo-vs-osaka-vote-for-which-city-you-like-better/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:50:09 +0000 kevin 1752946129 very different. Some differences between the two cities are obvious when you visit, like the spoken dialect. But others are more subtle, like escalator manners! In this episode, we talk about these differences as well as some fun facts about Tokyo and Osaka! Plus, you'll find out which of these two cities we like more. But we don't want it to stop there - we want to know what you think too! Vote in the comments below and tell us which city you like better!]]> http://www.ispeakjapanese.net/videos/tokyo-vs-osaka-vote-for-which-city-you-like-better/feed/ 8:57 Tokyo and Osaka are both awesome Japanese cities to visit but they are also very different.nbsp; Some differences between the two cities are obvious when ... Tokyo and Osaka are both awesome Japanese cities to visit but they are also very different.nbsp; Some differences between the two cities are obvious when you visit, like the spoken dialect. But others are more subtle, like escalator manners! In this episode, we talk about these differences as well as some fun facts about Tokyo and Osaka! Plus, you'll find out which of these two cities we like more. But we don't want it to stop there - we want to know what you think too! Vote in the comments below and tell us which city you like better! Happy,Hour,Japan Happy Hour Japan no No