Hello everyone!
My name is Tudor, I’m 23, and I am currently studying aquaculture and economics. My goal is simple: visit Japan… didn’t really think past that… Anyway –
About three or four years ago a good friend of mine asked me if I knew anything about One Piece. I didn’t. Then he kept rambling on about anime and Japan and manga and how I should try it. My answer was blunt: I don’t watch cartoons (blasphemy…I know, I know). A few days later I gave One Piece a shot. My reaction to the first episode – I’m wasting my time – second episode – they’re getting somewhere – third episode and so on – WOOOOW!
And after anime came manga. I love stories and most mangaka really know how to tell them. Bits and pieces of Japanese culture and history got stuck in my mind (like how Musashibo Benkei died standing up). I found out that I understand the tiny bit of Japanese philosophy and way of life that I received through these media and that my way of thinking is somewhat similar. This drew me even closer to Japanese culture.
I realized that in order to make my Japanese experience more authentic I should really learn the language, but… I kept postponing it. What made me actually start learning was the fact that I missed the subtitle for a word that was an important hint in Detective Conan anime. And I had to get out of bed (because the mouse batteries had just died), walk to my desk (about 2 meters away, or 6 ft) and replay that sequence (I can’t have that every time my mouse batteries die).
And now I’m here and on WaniKani and I really wish to thank the Tofugu team for their work in making Japanese so accessible.
ありがとうございます and がんばってください.