In Düsseldorf we had a lunch at a very lovely place.  This is the banner of the little ramen-shop.

The service was very nice and I had a chance to use the words 別々で and 緒で.

From Newbie Lesson S4 #44 - Check, Please!

別々でお願いします  -- べつべつでおねがいします --  We’d like separate checks please.

一緒で、お願いします  -- いっしょで、おねがいします -- Please, make it one check.

I like the German versions better:  別々で -- Getrennt and 一緒で -- Zusammen.

In our case it was 一緒で -- it is always nice to treat someone for a lunch )))).

More pretty Japanese things that I've seen in Düssledorf shops in Japanese quarter.

Sushi USB memory - したUSBメモリ

it looks so pretty and certainly will be lots of fun to use.  I think I'll buy my next USB memory as a sushi )))

In Düsseldorf's Japanese quarter there are lots of little Japanese salons that offer different wellness treatments.  That's a great way to learn couple of new words:

Here is one of the posters for one of such wellness place.  I cropped the picture so that the address and telephone are not included, but the most important words are here:

• 美容 -- びよう-- beauty

美容院 --びよういん-- beauty parlour; beauty parlor; hairdressing salon
美容室 --びようしつ-- beauty parlour

• あん摩, 按摩 --あんま-- (n,vs) (1) massage, esp. the Anma Japanese type of massage; (n) (2) (sens) masseur; masseuse

按摩さん--あんまさん-- masseuse; masseur

• 足底筋 --そくていきん--Plantaris muscle

of what I gathered in google 足底 is often used for "foot"

I was in Düsseldorf for JLPT and greatly enjoyed the Japanese quarter in the city.  Lots of shops, restaurants and sushi-bars.

Pretty things like these sushi candle (すしキャンドル) - totally useless, but oh! so pretty!

Continuing with the masu-form for JLPT3 based on the list from the book 完全マスター3級 日本語能力試験文法問題対策 - The Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Grammar Exercises. And some examples from old dear Minna no Nihongo.

ます形 - ます forms- grammar points for JLPT 3:

• たい

富士山に登りたいです。
I want to climb Mt. Fuji.
富士山(P) --ふじさん-- Mt. Fuji

• ながら

音楽を聞きながら運転します。

While listening to the music, I drove a car.
• はじめる

昼ご飯を食べはじめたら、電気が止まりだしました。
When we started lunch, the electricity suddenly failed.

Like everyone else in November I'm drilling for the JLPT. I've never taken JLPT and thught that level 3 will be a good starting point.

I'm using the book 完全マスター3級 日本語能力試験文法問題対策 - The Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Grammar Exercises.

ます形 - ます forms- grammar points for JLPT 3

• ~かた

- 行きかたがわかりますか。
- ええ、一度行ったことがありますから、大丈夫です。
-Do you know how to get there?
- Yes. As I've came there already once, I'll be fine.

• ~やすい

最近の私は、本当に物事を忘れやすい。 Lately, I really easily forget things.

最近 --さいきん-- (adj-no,n-adv,n-t) latest; most recent; nowadays;

物事 --ものごと-- (n) things; everything

• ~にくい

すごい分かりにくいと思いますが。

It's rather difficult to understand, methinks.

Today in Salzburg in Festung Hohensalzburg:

コイン 投入
ボタンを押して下さい

This obviously means :Throw in a coin. Press the button.

Nice and sweet. ^__^

コイン (n) coin;
投入 --とうにゅう-- (1) throwing (e.g. something into somewhere)

押す--おす-- (1) to push; to press;

I was learning the kanji list for JLPT and had 同 came up. As usually a handy way to remember the on'yomi and kun'yomi is by connecting them with the words already well know.

• kun'yomi

同じ --おなじ(P)--(adj-f,n) (1) same; identical; equal; uniform; equivalent; similar; common (origin); changeless; alike;

• on'yomi

同級生 --どうきゅうせい-- (n) classmate; classmates;

I remember it well because of the manga 同級生 by 中村 明日美子 (Nakamura Asumiko) - a very talanted mangaka.  And the drama cd based on the manga to enjoy the conversations .