Uses of と

And we have yet another particle!

とき (時) = When…; at the time of…
ごめんなさい = I`m sorry
だから = So; therefore
~と = Together with (a person)
どうして = Why
ひとりで = Alone

The only word above we really need for today is と. The particle being reviewed today has a couple of different uses. First, it can be used to connect two nouns (NOT two VERBS).
えいごと日本ごをはなします。 (I speak English and Japanese.)
ハンバーガーとアイスクリームをたべました。 (I ate a hamburger and ice cream.)

It can also be used to say something was done with someone else.
わたしはさくらさんときっさてんでコーヒーをのみます。 (Sakura and I will go to the coffee shop to drink coffee.)

That`s pretty much it for today. Here are a few sentences for you to translate!

1. I went to Osaka and Tokyo.
2. I will drink coffee and tea.
3. I will play tennis with Sakura.
4. I went shopping with Sakura.

That`s all for translation! If there are any questions or if there is something you want to have explained in more detail, comment below! I`ll be happy to help! Furthermore, if you enjoy these posts, please click this link. It takes you to a page containing my story. If you`re interested in how I ended up where I am, check it out! If you like it, please share. Also, if you feel compelled to do so, please click the donate button. I am asking for donations to help pay off my student debt. Any amount that can be donated will be VERY appreciated! The exchange rate from yen to dollars is horrendous and it`s difficult sending half my paycheck home every month. So, if you can, please help! Here are your answers.

1. わたしはおおさかととうきょうにいきました。
2. わたしはおちゃとコーヒーをのみます。
3. わたしはさくらさんとテニスをします。
4. わたしはさくらさんとかいものをしました。

がんばってください!!

たくさん

Yet another short lesson! Today, I`ll be going over how to talk about the quantity of something. Right now, we are only going over one word.
The word for today is たくさん, or many/a lot.

Quantity words in Japanese are a bit different than those in English. In Japanese, the word can be placed either before the noun or after particle を when added to a direct object.

本やでたくさん本をかいました。
本やで本をたくさんかいました。

Both of the above sentences mean “I bought lots of books at the bookstore.” The meaning of the sentence does not change with the placement of たくさん. Remember, before the noun or after を.

That`s actually all I have to go over today! If you want something to be explained in more detail or have a question, comment below! I`ll do my best to fulfill what you need.

Furthermore, if you like what you see on this site, please click this link. This link will take you to a donation page. Even if you do not have the funds or are not willing to donate at this point in time, please check it out! Read my story and if you like it, please share the page! I`m not even asking that you donate, just that it be shared. However, if you feel compelled to do so, please click the donate button! Every bit of money is very much appreciated! All money goes directly towards paying off student loans. The exchange rate from yen to dollars is making loan payments a bit difficult right now, so I`m just asking for a little help! Thank you, everyone!

がんばってください!

Periods of Time

Today is yet another short lesson. We will be going over how to say something is being/was done over a period of so many hours. First, some vocabulary.

~じかん (時かん) = …hours
~ぐらい = About (approximate measurement)

To talk about how long you did something, use 時かん. For example:
わたしは日本語を一時かんべんきょうしました。
For one hour, I studied Japanese. Notice there is no particle following the time lapse. So far, I have not come across a situation in which a particle does follow.

If you want to say you did something for 1.5 hours or about 1 hour, add ぐらい after 時かん.

わたしはきっさてんでともだちを一時かん半まちました。(I waited for a friend at the coffee shop/cafe for an hour and a half)

わたしはきっさてんでともだちを一時かんぐらいまちました。 (I waited for a friend at the coffee shop/cafe for about an hour.)

Now, what if you want to say you waited for about an hour and a half? Well, a little tip, ぐらい always comes last.

わたしはきっさてんでともだちを一時かん半ぐらいまちました。 (I waited for a friend at the coffee shop/cafe for about an hour and a half.)

Not too long of a lesson! So, here are a couple of practice sentences. Practice by translating!

1. I waited at the bus stop for 2 hours.
2. Yesterday, I slept for about 8 and a half hours.
3. I studied history for about 1 hour.
4. Today, I listened to music for an hour and a half.

That`s all I have for today! I hope things are going well. Those of you taking the JLPT, I wish you luck! If you have any questions about the format of the test and how to study, feel free to ask! I`ve taken it once before (N5 only) and have an idea of how it goes. I also have a post on how I studied for the previous test on my blog. Here is the link. がんばってください!

Also, sorry to bring this up again, but if you find these posts helpful or are interested in my background, check out my GoFundMe page! Read my story, find out what I`m about. If you like it or want to support what I`m doing, please share the link! If you feel so compelled, please click the donate button. All donations go towards helping to pay off my student loans. The exchange rate from yen to dollars is really putting  a dent in my income every month and every bit would help! Thank you to those who at least took the time to click and read.

Here are your answers

1. わたしはバスていで二時かんまちました。
2. きのう、わたしは八時かん半ぐらいねました。
3. わたはれきしを一時かんぐらいべんきょうしました。
4. きょう、わたしはおんがくを一時かん半聞きました。

がんばってください!

The Particle も 2

I apologize for the long remission. I have been studying out of my new book and it has been taking  a lot of time because I`m trying to be as thorough as possible. Today`s lesson was just a practice journal entry so I actually have time to make a post! This should be a pretty short lesson as well. Plus, there is NO new vocabulary! Yay!?

Before, we talked about the particle も being  used to describe a common trait shared between two nouns. However, this particle can also be used to say two people took part in the same activity.

わたしはおおさかにいきました。(I went to Osaka.)
きょうとにもいきました。 (I also went to Kyoto.)

It can also be used for two different direct objects affected by the same action.

わたしはアイスクリームをたべました。 (I ate ice cream.)
パンもたべました。 (I also ate bread.)

It can also be used to say the same thing was done at two different times.

金曜日におおさかにいきました。
こんしゅうの金曜日にもおおさかにいく。

Another note on using this particle. You may have noticed that when も is being used where は、が、or を are found that the particle is actually replaced. However, in most other cases, も will follow the particle, as in the examples using に above.

That`s all we have for this lesson! Short, sweet, and to the point! If you have any questions or want something described in more detail, comment! Again, I highly recommend looking into Genki if you`re a beginner and are serious about learning.

Furthermore, I would like to ask you click this link and read my story. This is about what I did before coming to Japan and how I came to be here. If you feel compelled to do so, please share it! And if you really enjoy what is being posted, please click the “donate” button. I greatly appreciate any donations contributed to help pay off my student loans. All money is put directly to my student loan debt. Currently, the yen is very weak and so sending money home has gotten a bit tough. I appreciate you taking the time to read this!

がんばってください!

 

Past Tense of Verbs

Today is more about past tense! Instead of only covering です we will be adding past tense verb conjugations. Before moving on, vocabulary!

う-verbs
あう = To meet; to see (a person) (Person に)
かう = To buy (~を)
かく = To write (Person に thing を)
とる = To take (a picture) (~を)
まつ = To wait (~を)
わかる = To understand (~が)

First, remember we have 3 different groups of verbs. In this lesson, we only learn new う-verbs, so I`ll be referring back to words learned in a previous lesson for words from the other two groups. First, let`s practice conjugating in the present tense to see if we recall how to do so! Conjugate each word into present positive and negative.

1. あう
2. わかる
3. おきる
4. たべる
5. する
6. くる

Conjugate these verbs, and then look to the bottom for the answers to make sure you are doing it correctly. Now, going on. Essentially, the conjugation works the same way. There will only be changes to the ます and ました endings. For past, positive, ます will change to ました. For past, negative, ません becomes ませんてせした. Here are some examples.
う-verbs
かう ~ かいます　(buy/will buy)
かう ~ かいました (bought)
かう ~ かいません (don`t buy/won`t buy)
かう ~ かいませんてせした (didn`t buy)

る-verbs
ねる ~ ねます (sleep/will sleep)
ねる ~ ねました (slept)
ねる ~ ねません (don`t sleep/won`t sleep)
ねる ~ ねませんでした (didn`t sleep)

Irregulars
する = します (do/will do)
する = しました (did do)
する = しません (do not do/will not do)
する = しませんでした (did not do)
くる = きます (come)
くる = きました (came)
くる = きません (won`t come)
くる = きませんでした (didn`t come)

There is also no difference in sentence structure. The tense of the verb changes the tense of the sentence itself. Now, let`s practice! For reference, don`t forget to look at the required particles for the old and new verbs!

1. I went to the super market.
2. Sakura did not take a picture.
3. I waited in front of the library.
4. I did not understand.
5. Kirito slept.
6. On Monday, I did not watch TV.
7. On Tuesday, I ate ice cream.
8. On Sunday, I did not study Japanese.
9. On Friday, I drank coffee at the cafe.
10. On Thursday, I did not come to school.

Hopefully this all made sense. I`m not being super descriptive, but I hope it`s enough. Let me know if there`s anything I can do to clear up and problems/misunderstandings. Thanks to everyone who offered advice and suggestions already. I really appreciate and will take them into consideration and do my best to accommodate. Also, before going over answers, please take the time to check out my GoFundMe page! Read my story, share the link, and if you like what I`m doing and would like to support me in my time in Japan, please feel free to click the donate button. Every bit helps. I`m sending money home every month to cover my student loans and right now, it`s about half my paycheck every month because of the terrible exchange rate. Once things even out, it`ll get MUCH easier. Thank you to everyone who checks it out, shares, and donates. Every share counts as well! Anyway, here are your answers!

1. あいます/あいません
2. わかります/わかりません
3. おきます/おきません
4. たべます/たべません
5. します/しません
6. きます/きません

Now, onto the second set!

1. わたしはスーパーにいきました。
2. さくらさんはしゃしんをとりませんでした。
3. わたしはとしょかんのまえでまちました。
4. わたしはわかりませんでした。
5. きりとさんはねました。
6. わたしは月曜日にテレビをみませんでした。
7. わたしは火曜日にアイスクリームをたべました。
8. わたしは日曜日ににほんごをべんきょうしませんでした。
9. わたしは金曜日にきっさてんでコーヒーをのみました。
10. わたしは木曜日にがっこうにきませんでした。

がんばってください!

Past Tense

Finally! Getting to past tense. Right now, we are only looking at the past tense form of です. We`ll be covering past tense verbs next time.

おみやげ = Souvenir
ごはん = Rice; meal
しゃしん = Picture
てがみ = Letter
ひと = Person
メール = e-mail

So, with learning the past tense form of です we will be able to say things like “He was a student.” “That was not a temple.” And things of the like. To change です to past tense, we simply change it to でした. Everything else within the sentence will remain the same. The only word we change is です.
わたしはベルモントだいがくのがくせいです。 (I am a student at Belmont University.)
わたしはベルモントだいがくのがくせいでした。 (I was a student at Belmont University.)

See how every element of the above sentences if the same except for the tense of です? It`s that simple! Now, let`s move on to negative sentences. Remember how to say someone is NOT something?
わたしはがくせいです。 (I am a student.)
わたしはがくせいじゃないです。 (I am not a student.) (Don`t forget, you can also use じゃありません and ではありません. But for today, stick with じゃないです.)

To change a negative です sentence into past tense, change it to じゃなかったです. A little more complicated than the positive, but you can do it! This will be talked about a bit more in a post to be made within the next two weeks.
わたしはがくせいじゃないです。 (I am not a student)
わたしはがくせいじゃなかったです。 (I was not a student.)

Now, let`s go on to some examples!

Translate these sentences

1. I was an office worker.
2. Mom was a lawyer.
3. That was not a magazine.
4. That was not a hospital.
5. I was a teacher.

Another pretty short lesson! If you feel something wasn`t explained sufficiently, please let me know! I`d be glad to add something. Just let me know what you think can be done better! We`re starting to move along here, even with my slow posting rate. This month and the beginning of next month will be pretty busy. I`m actually teaching quite a few classes right now! Here are the answers to the above.

1. かいしゃいんでした。
2. おかあさんはべんごしでした。
3. あれはざっしじゃなかったです。
4. あれはびょういんじゃなかったです。
5. わたしはせんせいでした。 (You can also use きょうし instead of せんせい in this case. It is a more humble way of referring to yourself or someone close to you as a teacher.)

がんばってください!

Again, thank you to all of those who have continued to return and check out my posts! You all are great. I`m glad these are somewhat helpful! For those of you who keep returning and like what you post, please click this link. It`s a link to my GoFundMe page. The exchange rate from yen to dollars is really terrible right now and having to send money home to pay off loans is really causing some tight money situations while I`m still trying to get a car and winter-ize my apartment. All money donated will go straight to paying off my loans! I appreciate all of you who have already donated and shared my link. If you cannot donate, please just check out my story and share the link on social media! Every bit of help counts. Thank you, all!

The Cat is Under the Chair

Moving on with reviewing locations. Now, I will be reviewing how to say, more specifically, where something is located. First, we need some new vocabulary.

みぎ = Right
ひだり = Left
まえ = Front
うしろ = Behind
なか = Inside
うえ = On
した = Under
ちかく = Near; nearby
となり = Next
あいだ = Between

I believe this is all we need for today! So, moving on. Remember how to ask where something is? (Try and guess before reading the following)

_______はどこですか。 (Remember now?)

Great! Continuing off of that. Before, we learned how to answer this question with very vague responses; “It`s over there.” “It`s here.” Very general and only useful if it is within eyesight and it is clear where you are pointing. But now, we will be getting a little more specific. This goes for locating items, buildings, people, animals, etc..

To do this, our basic sentence structure will be XはYの____です。
としょかんはゆうびんきょくのみぎです。 The library is to the right of the post office. (The library is on the post office`s right.)
ねこはつくえのしたです。 The cat is under the desk.

Notice how it`s like the direction is possessed/owned by the place or item. “The post office`s right.” “The desk`s under.” This goes true for all the vocabulary listed above., but pay special attention to あいだ. There is one more particle that needs to be added, と. This is a particle meaning “and.”
としょかんはゆうびんきょくときっさてんのあいだです。 (The library is between the post office and cafe.)

と is used to connect the two places we are talking about the item being between.

These words can be used for things other than talking about where something is. We can also use で to say something took place somewhere. わたしはきっさてんのまえでさくらをまちます。 (I will wait in front of the cafe for Sakura.)

Now, let`s practice!

1. The desk is in front of the TV.
2. The dog is to the left of the desk.
3. The cat is next to the dog.
4. The personal computer is under the cat. (We all know this happens.)
5. The personal computer is on the desk.
6. The umbrella is between the bag and desk.
7. The library is behind the restaurant.
8. The restaurant is inside the hotel.
9. The hotel is near the supermarket.
10. The park is between the supermarket and hospital.

Thank you to all of you who have stuck through and keep coming back. I know these aren`t the kind of posts you were hoping to see on my blog but I haven`t had much to post about lately. If there is anything specific you would like to have me post about, please let me know! I would love to make a post related to whatever topic it may be. I also hope these reviews/lessons are helping those who are looking at them. This is pretty beginner stuff right now, but sometimes we need a good review. And besides, a good foundation provides for more possible growth, right? If the foundation is rocky and unstable, there will be some trouble learning the things later on since it all builds. The stronger the foundation, the better one can succeed! I tend to return to the beginning and review old lessons a lot. I did not use to, but it is something I have really been working on. Anyway, enough rambling, here are the answers to the above questions!

1. つくえはテレビのまえです。
2. いぬはつくえのひだりです。
3. ねこはいぬのとなりです。
4. パソコンはねこの下です。
5. パソコンはつくえの上です。
6. かさはかばんとつくえのあいだです。
7. としょかんはレストランのうしろです。
8. レストランはホテルの中です。
9. ホテルはスーパーのちかくです。
10. こうえんはスーパーとびょういんのあいだです。

がんばってください。

Thank you, again, everyone! I really appreciate all of you who are keeping up with this. It is also time for me to start posting this again. The exchange rate going from yen to dollars right now is not the best, ￥124 to $1. Terrible. I`m sending money home every month to pay off my college loans and I would really love some help. If you are interested in these posts and are finding them helpful, please click this link. This is a link to my GoFundMe. Any little bit of money helps. To those who have donated, you are getting post cards. I just have yet to manage to find some. Hopefully I can soon since I`ve been over here a while now. Or maybe I`ll use the printer at the convenience store and send pictures your way! Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Even if you cannot donate, please take the time to read my story and share the link! Every share counts! Thank you all!

There is…

Welcome back after such a long hiatus! I do apologize, yet again (not that my following is exactly very big when it comes to these posts.) Anyway, moving on to today`s post. Today I`m going over how to say something exists. First, vocabulary.

アルバイト = Part-time job
かいもの = Shopping
クラス = Class
いす = Chair
いぬ = Dog
こども = Child
つくえ = Desk
ねこ = Cat
パン = Bread
おてら = Temple
こうえん = Park
スーパー = Supermarket
バスてい = Bus stop　(Notice the first half of the word is in katakana while the second half is in hiragana)
びょういん = Hospital
ホテル = Hotel
ほんや = Bookstore
まち = Town
レストラン = Restaurant
デパート = Department store
きのう = Yesterday
せんしゅう = Last week
げつようび (月曜日) = Monday
かようび (火曜日) = Tuesday
すいようび (水曜日) = Wednesday
もくようび (木曜日) = Thursday
きんようび (金曜日) = Friday
ある = There is… (う-verb)
いる = (someone/some animal) is in…; stays at… (る-verb)

That`s all for today! A lot of these will also be used in the next lesson I post. I hope anyone reading this has been able to keep up with the vocabulary. I hope you`re finding something that works for you!

Today`s focus is on the two verbs above. I didn`t list any particles that go with the verbs because they will be covered throughout the lesson. Both of these verbs means that something exists somewhere. ある is used for inanimate objects while いる is used for animate objects (and sometimes cars, apparently? Maybe this is only in some areas.)

There are a few things that make these verbs different from other verbs. First, the particle に is used instead of で. Also, the place of existence is usually put towards the front of the sentence. And finally, the object existing is followed by the particle が instead of は. Examples:
あそこにとしょかんがあります。 (Over there is a library.)
あそこにねこがいます。 (Over there is a cat.)
Notice the uses for the two different verbs. A library is inanimate (or at least we hope it is) so we use ある while a cat is an animate object, a living, breathing thing, so we use いる. Got it? Cool. Moving on.

These verbs are not only used to say that something exists somewhere. They can also be used to say you have or possess something or that something is taking place. Examples:
つくえがあります。 (I have a desk.)
こどもがいません。 (I don`t have a child (children))
木曜日にえいごのクラスがあります。 (I have English class on Thursday.)
See that? These verbs have many useful meanings.

Now, let`s try some sentences.

Translate these sentences.

1. I have a dog.
2. There is a restaurant over there.
3. I have a TV.
4. On Tuesday, I have a test.
5. On Wednesday, I have class.
6. Sakura has a child.
7. I have a dictionary.
8. I don`t have a cat.
9. I don`t have shoes.
10. On Friday, I do not have class.

That`s it for today`s lesson. Let me know what you think by commenting below! I love getting feedback/corrections. I hope this are making sense to those who do actually read them and try to learn/study. But again, if you are serious, I recommend investing in a book made to teach English speakers the Japanese language. I used both Genki books and am now using
An Intermediate Approach to Japanese (Well, I will be once I finish my Japanese for JETs book, which I randomly decided to use to pass time.) I highly recommend Genki. I used both Youkoso and Genki in college and prefer Genki by a long shot. Anyway, please let me know if you find any mistakes! Here are your answers.

1. いぬがいます。
2. あそこにレストランがあります。
3. テレビがあります。
4. 火曜日にテストがあります。
5. 水曜日にクラスがあります。
6. さくらさんはこどもがいます。
7. じしょがあります。
8. ねこがいません。
9. くつがありません。
10. 金曜日にクラスがありません。

がんばってください!

Second Kanji Set

Second kanji set – Here is the document you will need.

Just a couple of notes. I feel this is really important and I cannot remember if I said anything about it on the last kanji post. While I am doing the best I can to show stroke order of each kanji, I am not able to accurately show proportionality or whether a stroke ends with a pencil stop, pencil lift, or a hook. These are all considered a part of learning to write Japanese kanji. It`s one of those things that if you don`t bother to learn them, the Japanese will assume you just didn`t bother to learn them correctly. I recommend looking into each kanji a bit more to find how you are actually suppose to write each one. Also, if you notice any mistakes on the document, please let me know. I put a lot of time into it and don`t want it to go to waste.

Now, see if you can figure out these words! Some of the kanji gone over are not used in any words we know. I will include a simple word using the kanji and I want you to try and guess what the reading is. Use your knowledge of on-yomi and kun-yomi to figure out what the reading may be!

1. 日本
2. 日曜日
3. 本
4. 日本人
5. 月曜日*
6. 一月*
7. 火曜日*
8. 水
9. 木曜日*
10. 金曜日*
11. 土曜日
12. 上*
13. 下*
14. 中*
15. 三時半
    * = This is a word you have not learned yet. Give it your best and don`t let it discourage you! I just wanted to show an example word with each kanji. You will learn these words in the next couple lessons.

I`m sorry it took me so long to get this post done. I have been busy at work and haven`t felt like doing much while at home. Plus, making the kanji document took a bit due to a few more complicated ones. I hope this lesson is helpful. If you see mistakes, please let me know! Please, please, please. These kanji will now be used whenever possible in the lessons to come and I want them to be correct so they are learned correctly. You can find the answers below!

Also, before I forget! I have found a new method to learning kanji and I have decided to try it out. I am using the Heisig method. It starts by having you learn to write and recognize all of the kanji before learning all of the different readings. I`m going to focus on this for a bit and I`ll keep you updated on what I think of it! So far, it`s very interesting. It is said that if you commit to doing this full-time, you can learn 2,000 plus some kanji in 4-6 weeks. However, I`m only doing about 30 minutes a day. After two days, I have about 30 kanji I`ve gone through. Some old, some new. Look into it if you`re interested! After learning all the writings/meanings, the second volume is focused on readings. Then, there is a third for even more proficiency. All are available in PDF versions for free online or you can purchase them for a reasonable amount! (only about $25 in America. About ￥４５００ in Japan.)

Answers!

1. にほん
2. にちようび
3. ほん
4. にほんじん
5. げつようび
6. いちがつ
7. かようび
8. みず
9. もくようび
10. きんようび
11. どようび
12. うえ
13. した
14. なか
15. さんじかん

がんばってください!

Getting a License

Hey, everyone! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I figured since I have the day off and actually have no plans, I could post something!

So, some have asked about what I had to do to get my license in Japan. Fortunately, getting a license in Japan is a bit easier for and American that already has a license than it is to start from scratch like a native Japanese. They make the tests a LITTLE bit easier as well. That doesn`t really stop us from having to take it multiple times though.

So first, if you`re reading this as someone applying for the JET program or someone that is thinking of moving to Japan, make sure you get an international driving permit so you can practice whenever you want! The other ALT here didn`t have one so his only practice was paying for a practice session at the license center (about ¥5,500) and the actual day of the driving test. He was not able to drive on the roads here. I did not go to the practice session because I was able to drive around my town when going between schools. So, get an international driving permit. Go to AAA. It`s around $30 for non-members and totally worth it.

Anyway, so as an American we are not one of the lucky countries that gets to just walk in and get a license (looking at you, Canada). We have to take both the written and practical driving exam. The written exam at our driving center cost (I believe) about ¥2,600. I could be completely wrong. I did this about 2 months ago and my memory isn`t exactly the greatest. The written test is only 10 questions instead of the dreaded 100 questions the Japanese have to take. On the downside, this means you can only miss 3 questions before you fail. Everyone goes on about how easy the written exam is. While it was easy, don`t expect to just go in and pass. Actually study a little bit. There are really small details they may ask you about. Also, some of the translations are a little wonky. If you know Japanese it`ll really help you out in the end. I recommend reading the Japanese question to see what they actually mean. This saved me on one or two questions. (maybe could`ve helped more, but kanji is the devil.) I had to take the test twice to pass. I got 6 answers right the first time, so I was one point away and had to pay the fee to take it again.

After passing the written exam, it is time to schedule the practical exam. This is the most difficult of the two exams. There are lots of little details and you have to put on this kind of facade for the driving instructor. No one drives like you have to drive for the exam. It`s a test to see if you can drive and be aware of any possible danger at any given moment, even if the impending danger is impossible or unrealistic. Most do not pass the first time. I`m convinced that foreigners are not allowed to pass the first time they take the test at our driving center. The first time is free, like they are expecting you to fail. I haven`t talked to any foreigners who have passed their first time though. After the first time, the test is ¥2,200 each time.

Getting ready for the test, I practiced and studied every day (yes, studied). There is a proper order things need to be done in. The test begins before you even sit in the car and continues until the next person starts.

I`m going to go through general test things but am not going to lay out the entire test because that would take WAY too long and I`m not patient enough or willing to relive the test.

Before getting in the car, you need to make sure to look under the back side of the car. If you decide to walk along the drivers side of the car to get to the front, look both ways before doing so. If you walk along the passenger side, you`re fine. Then, look under the front of the car. After that, walk towards the driver`s side, look both ways for traffic, walk to the door, look to make sure no cars are coming and will take your door off, then open the door and get in.

After getting in the car, it is time to do driving preparation things. This means you need to adjust your seat, put on your seatbelt, make sure everyone else is wearing a seatbelt, check your mirrors, lock the door, make sure the emergency brake is on, press down on the foot brake and start the car, put on your turn signal on to let traffic know you will be moving, put the car in drive, take off the emergency brake, do a full head spin (look over your left shoulder, look in the passenger mirror, rearview mirror, driver`s side mirror, and then over your right should to make sure there is no one around you and no cars approaching), then you may move.

The driving is actually the easy part. However, one note. This is only for the Tsu Driving Center. I have no experience with others. But everything you will read and everything you will hear tells you to stay far left. Many people in the past have failed for not staying left enough. However, it appears things may have changed. I failed for being too far left. Not only that, everyone who passed stayed in the center. Literally everyone I talked to before taking my test the first time said that you want to stay left. No one has ever failed for being too far left. Well, I did. Stay in the center. Next, ALWAYS use a turn signal. You don`t need to when going around a curve. But if you forget, it`s an automatic fail. Next, when making lane changes or turns, always signal early, look in your rearview mirror, the mirror in the direction you are turning (if turning left, driver`s mirror; right, passenger), and then over the correlating shoulder to make sure a bike isn`t making it`s way along the side of your car. THEN, you can turn. Also, you apparently don`t want to check too slowly. It`s another way to fail. When stopping or slowing down, make sure to pump your brakes. Don`t just push down once. Make it noticeable. Your drive will not be a smooth one and it`s okay. Speaking of stopping, reason number 2 I failed the first time. When the stop light turns green, count, “1, 2, 3,” look both ways, look in your mirrors and over your shoulder, then turn. I did not sit there for three seconds before looking. The light turned green, I looked everywhere, and went. Running red lights is common in Japan. You need to be careful. But this may be a little overboard.

Now, the two parts people often freak out about, The S-curve and the crank. Personally, I found them pretty easy. The description makes them sound terrifying though. So first, the crank. The crank is a very narrow and sharp turn. The road is big enough for one car and the turn is at a 90-degree angle. Take it very VERY slowly and everything is fine. If you hit a curb, back straight up and try again. Make sure to check your rearview mirror before backing up. You can backup three times before you fail. However, hitting the curb while exiting the crank or in any other part of the exam will cause you to automatically fail. Next, the S-curve. It`s exactly what it sounds like, a curve shaped like an “S.” The road is also very narrow. It is recommended you stay to the right because it is easier to see. If you hit a curb, you fail. After leaving these, the rest of the exam is easy. Just make sure to stop for 3-seconds at every stop sign before looking both ways. At the blind turn (area where you can`t see traffic from one or both directions, make sure to completely stop TWICE. Once at the marked spot and another time at a point where you can see.

Now, the end of the exam. Make sure to turn on your left signal when exiting the course. The instructor will give you a number to pull up to. Make sure you do not park anywhere in front of the number. Not even an inch! You are suppose to part the front of your car within 30CM BEHIND the number. So line up perfectly, or barely behind the number. After stopping, put on the emergency brake, put the car into park, and turn off the car. Wait for your instructions and then make sure to look in the rearview mirror and over your shoulder before SLOWLY opening the door to make sure no one will come and take your door off. Congratulations, you now have an 30-minute or hour long wait to find out if you pass or not.

Oh, and did I forget to mention you are possibly the ONLY car and you are on a course where public traffic is not allowed? It`s all pretend. Also, if you thought American driver`s license pictures were bad, wait until you get a Japanese one.