I teach Japanese through manga, real conversations, and expressions you actually hear in Japanese dramas.

Before we get into all that, though…
I thought I should tell you a little story about myself first.

Here’s a 4-panel manga version of it.

The funny thing is…

This story is completely true.

I now live in Cairns, Australia.

When people hear “Cairns,” they often imagine a relaxed tropical lifestyle.

Beautiful beaches. Sunshine. Slow mornings.

Honestly… I imagined that too.

But before moving to Australia, I was already living a very “early morning” kind of life in Japan.

At the time, I taught English to Japanese learners and Japanese to business people working in Japan.

Most of my students were office workers.

So my lessons were usually:

• before work

• during lunch breaks

• after work

Which meant…

my day started very early.

I used to commute from Yokohama to Tokyo every morning.

In winter, it was still completely dark outside.

I remember walking to the station half asleep, and wondering:

“Why am I always so tired?”

Still, I loved teaching.

I loved seeing students suddenly understand something.

I loved conversations.

But the schedule was exhausting.

Then one day, I had a thought:

“Maybe life would be easier overseas.”

So I moved to Cairns on a working holiday visa.

I imagined a slower, more relaxed life in tropical Australia.

Instead…

I became a tour guide for Japanese tourists.

And every flight from Japan arrived ridiculously early in the morning.

Airport pickup: 4:30 AM.

Still dark outside.

Half asleep.

Holding a welcome sign at the arrivals gate.

And thinking:

“…Wait. My mornings got EVEN earlier.”

Life doesn’t always go the way you expect.

But looking back, I think those experiences shaped the way I teach Japanese today.

As a tour guide, I met many Japanese travelers:

• people nervous about language barriers

• people experiencing cultural differences for the first time

• people trying their best to communicate

And later, I also met many people overseas learning Japanese for the exact same reasons.

That’s when I realized something important:

Language isn’t just about being correct.

It starts with wanting to connect.

Because I’ve taught both:

• English to Japanese learners

• and Japanese to English speakers

I naturally started noticing things like:

“This part is confusing for English speakers.”
“How can I explain this naturally?”
“What do Japanese people REALLY mean here?”

That’s why I started creating these manga-based lessons.

Not textbook Japanese.

Not overly formal Japanese.

But the kind of Japanese people actually use in dramas, relationships, awkward moments, and everyday life.

Through this newsletter, I hope to share:

• real Japanese expressions

• manga stories

• emotional nuance

• mini conversations

• pronunciation audio

• and the feeling of how Japanese is really used

I’m glad you’re here.

And I hope these stories help Japanese feel a little more alive, emotional, and human.

Easy Japanese Corner

こんにちは！
わたしは ミカです。

オーストラリアで
にほんごを おしえています。

にほんごの ドラマで よくつかう
「リアルな にほんご」を
まんがで しょうかいしています。

いっしょに
たのしく にほんごを べんきょうしましょう！

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