Sakura and Suzuki's Long Distance Relationship
When Suzuki's work suddenly takes him to Okinawa, his budding relationship with Sakura is tested.
Told in very short episodes that feature informal Japanese and lots of helpful notes, the Easier editions of this series make a great first step for new readers. (43 episodes)
Episode 1
Sakura talks about her hope to visit Suzuki over the upcoming Golden Week vacation.
Notes: This article features communication that you might see between peers in a close relationship, including mostly informal verbs, dropped particles, incomplete sentences, intimate forms of address, and so on.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers |  |
| Easier | Unread | 21618 | |
| Harder | Unread | 10984 |
Episode 2
Suzuki describes his daily life in Okinawa.
Notes: This article features communication that you might see between peers in a close relationship, including mostly informal verbs, dropped particles, incomplete sentences, intimate forms of address, and so on.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 13089 | |
| Harder | Unread | 7520 |
Pro
Episode 3
Plans for the Okinawa trip begin to firm up as Sakura spots a deal at the local travel agency.
Notes: This article features communication that you might see between peers in a close relationship, including mostly informal verbs, dropped particles, incomplete sentences, intimate forms of address, and so on.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 7814 | |
| Harder | Unread | 4096 |
Pro
Episode 4
Suzuki looks forward to Sakura's visit.
Notes: This article features communication that you might see between peers in a close relationship, including mostly informal verbs, dropped particles, incomplete sentences, intimate forms of address, and so on.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 4163 | |
| Harder | Unread | 2564 |
Pro
Episode 5
Sakura announces that she has bought tickets…and presents Suzuki with a difficult decision.
Notes: This article features communication that you might see between peers in a close relationship, including mostly informal verbs, dropped particles, incomplete sentences, intimate forms of address, and so on.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 3450 | |
| Harder | Unread | 2329 |
Pro
Episode 6
Excited about Sakura's upcoming visit, Suzuki suggests a side trip.
Notes: This article features communication that you might see between peers in a close relationship, including mostly informal verbs, dropped particles, incomplete sentences, intimate forms of address, and so on.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 2888 | |
| Harder | Unread | 2005 |
Pro
Episode 9
Sakura eases Suzuki's mind and provides more details about her day-to-day work environment.
Notes: This episode has lots of great vocabulary and grammar patterns, such as words for "inviting" someone out on a date, working hard "on" something, and using the -te form to provide a reason.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 2335 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1730 |
Pro
Episode 14
Suzuki reacts to Sakura's choice of swimwear and reflects on the moment when they began their long-distance relationship.
Notes: This article contains good vocabulary and an example of the -te form linking cause and effect.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1910 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1526 |
Pro
Episode 16
Suzuki remembers saying goodbye to Sakura at the airport.
Notes: This episode contains examples of a more colloquial equivalent of the negative -te form, and an expression that means "to feel (a certain way)" or "to have (a certain kind of) experience."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1771 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1431 |
Pro
Episode 17
Sakura reminds Suzuki of her martial arts prowess.
Notes: This shorter episode nevertheless contains great vocab related to judo, as well as some interesting expressions such as "to make a move" on someone, and "to have a bad time."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1692 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1398 |
Pro
Episode 20
Suzuki reflects on his experiences swimming in the Okinawan sea.
Notes: This episode contains examples of the -te yokatta pattern, which indicates happiness or relief over something that has happened, and the -te oku pattern, which means "to do something in advance; to do in preparation."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1577 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1328 |
Pro
Episode 24
Suzuki shares a reason for optimism about the typhoon.
Notes: This episode contains fun vocabulary, such as words for a man or woman who can make their own good weather, as well as extended annotations explaining useful patterns and expressions.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1425 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1210 |
Pro
Episode 25
Sakura wonders what to do about the typhoon.
Notes: This episode contains more fun vocabulary, such as one of the opposites of the "sunny guy/girl" words from the last episode, plus useful notes, such as one on the word umai.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1398 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1203 |
Pro
Episode 34
Suzuki shares his recollection of the shirt incident.
Notes: This episode contains useful words like "to turn inside out," as well as (in the Harder edition) a suffix that means that the verb is performed "with wild abandon."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1255 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1112 |
Pro
Episode 40
Suzuki sends a message that he expects Sakura will see after arriving in Naha.
Notes: This episode contains a sentence that demonstrates the -te kara pattern combined with the no that stands in for a person, place, thing, time, or reason, along with a breakdown of the grammar in play.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Easier | Unread | 1196 | |
| Harder | Unread | 1053 |