So much Hashi, so much… super toilets, cute mascots, takoyaki, and Cat Island! How could I not adore a nation that has a Cat Island? *o*

More seriously, I’m endlessly fascinated with japanese social norms and how some of them are built into the language. Americans are so casual by comparison–learning about not just *what* to say but *how* to say something in Japanese appropriately, depending who you’re talking to, adds a sociological layer to the language learning. So interesting!

Also, I think a person’s worldview is in part shaped by their native language–for instance, English speakers (among speakers of other languages) get a lot of mileage out of first and second person pronouns whereas Japanese speakers tend to avoid them and could probably get a long just fine without them. Things like that are telling about how people (and *generally* others in their native culture) think about the world. I just really want to know how the Japanese think about certain stuff and why.

…and I watch a lot of anime. Anime is awesome.