In the process of language-learning (an arduous, painful task), I’ve found that materials made for native-speaker children can be really useful. For instance, this Asahi Shimbun site introduces words and phrases to kids that have come up recently in current events/discourse. Examples include: 市町村の合併 大連立政権 テロ特措法の期限切れ インド洋での海自活動 Mainichi Shimbun has a similar word list. this [...]

Recently, it seems that the “in” thing for pseudo-dictators of the developing world is to declare a state of emergency. Yes. Mercantilism is out, genocide is faux pas, and environmental degradation is just par for the course (or 「当たり前」 as they’d say on the other side of the Pacific). Take a look at exhibit A: [...]