Reading Report: 19 February 2023
This week was another slow and steady one. I've started tracking some goals of mine in a different way than usual which has enabled me to track the time I spend listening/watching Japanese content a little bit more accurately. Other than that it's just a week of よつばと！ and 掟上今日子の備忘録.
よつばと！ Vol 14, Vol 15 (1/2)
Coming close to the end of the current Yotsuba canon. Volume 14 had a plethora of enjoyable stories. I really liked the opening chapter, しごと, where she, Yotsudad, and Jumbo, all make necklaces out of plastic beads Jumbo brought over. The way they tease her about which are the most valuable with their adult mind tricks was really cute. The ヨガ chapter was also cute. I liked the recurring joke that the women were only there because they felt like they had put on weight. The latter half of the book, mostly taking place in Tokyo was a mix of anxiety and joy. The way Yotsuba lost hope when she messes up at the ticket gate the second time was very understandable. Her increasing levels of tilt come through the page right into my heart. Yotsuba begging the cosplaying girls (宇宙人) to spare her and her family when the aliens destroy earth was very funny. Volume 15 has also been full of great chapters so far. The opening chapter setting up the kotatsu was really cute. I loved the line when Yotsudad questioned why she has a bunch of rocks and she goes 「つかれたときとかみてもいいから」. Having nice looking rocks just to look at in your house sort of feels like an adult thing, honestly. In the chapter バナナジュース the biggest revelation is that Yotsuba has had Milo (ミロ). Didn't know they had that in Japan, and I do think it would improve banana juice a little bit.
掟上今日子の備忘録: 69 pages (up to page 109)
The first mystery from last week was resolved, and was kind of disappointing. 今日子 was drugged and put to sleep during the case so her memory of the entire first half was wiped, but she ends up doing a foolhardy plan to expose the culprit and find the missing SD card and it works out perfectly for her. Thankfully the second story is showing more promise. The opening line is: 「お前の百万円は預かった。返して欲しければ一億円用意しろ」 Why would someone value 百万円 more than 一億円? Well, that's sort of the question of the story. I'm about 5 chapters in and it hasn't been explained yet, but it's clear that it holds some sentimental value to the victim. MC is basically just a dude once again. 今日子 hasn't done much yet.
Life Stuff
School continues to approach. This week I'll be at orientation for a large part of the day, trying to figure out exactly what I need to prepare for the year ahead.
Work is progressing slowly but steadily. The deadline for my current project is quite close and I have a bit of work that needs to get done but I'm confident I'll be able to do it in time.
I cooked an alright Oyakodon the other evening. Next time I'd like to try another donburi meal, and I'm not sure I was super satisfied with the ingredient substitutions I made.
That's all for the week. Japan trip stuff still on the way... I promise!