Indiana Jones Trilogy ショウ

Hell of a ショウ.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

focus
省
Indy's intense focus on the sandbag and the golden treasure, in the first scene.

correct
正
does Indy use the correct amount of sand? Er, no.

few
少
Just a few more grains of sand would have done it...

hinder
障
Bellock: "Once again Dr. Jones, we see there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away."

refined
精
Despite being such a scoundrel, Bellock plays himself off as a refined French gentleman throughout the film.

prosperous
昌
Indy isn't very prosperous in the first major scene. (the golden idol gets taken away)

marsh
沼
Marsh makes me think of the tropical jungle in the beginning of the movie.

ford
渉
Indy running/swimming across the ford to the airplane, native arrows whizzing around his head.

imperial edict
詔
The nazis orders to recover the ark at all costs. "Hitler's been collecting religious artifacts, he's nuts on the subject"

badge
章
The scene where the government agents show up in the beginning - flash of their badges

patent
彰
In the scene where the two federal agents display their ignorance on the bible, Indy in turn shows off his patent knowledge of biblical history. (patent in this kanji meaning easily recognizable; obvious)

wee hours
宵
Indy arrives at his ex's hut in Nepal in the wee hours of the night.

extinguish
消
For what it's worth, Marion really should have kept a fire extinguisher in her bar/mountain hut/"sty" (as she calls it).

bake
焼
Marion's cabin gets "baked" (burnt) to smouldering ashes.

wound
傷
the coin wound embedded on the nazi's hand.

accompany
従
"I tell you what, until I get back my 5000 dollars, you're gonna get more than you bargained for. I'm your goddamn partner!!" - Marion

victory
勝
Indiana in one of my favorite, all time scenes of victory: the black swordsman shows up in the street and waves his sword around - Indy just sighs and shoots him.

measuring box
升
Not a box, but a coin, with measurements inscribed on it. (it is for finding a certain box though)

well
井
The Well of Souls - a.k.a. snake pit with obvious glass divider.

laugh
笑
The scene where Bellock and Marion are drinking, while she wears the white dress. They are laughing hysterically, but suddenly she pulls a knife and makes jokingly threatening face. They just keep laughing!

exhort
奨
I exhorted Indy all throughout the famous helicopter fistfight scene!!

bed
床
A bed-ridden Indy, on the ship, with Marion nursing his wouds.

make a deal
商
Indy, holding a bazooka, threatening to blow up the arc.

shining
昭
The ark shining.

illuminate
照
The ark illuminating.

detailed
詳
The detailed last scene of the movie, with the Ark being put in a warehouse full of identical boxes.

Temple of Doom

symptoms
症
The first major scene of the movie. Symptoms of being slipped poison may include intense action scenes...

blue
青
The blue vial of antidote. Or the semi-attractive (but failure of an actress) who is the main heroine of the film's blue eyes.

little
小
Shortround.

appellation
称
Seriously. Indiana and short round. Nice appellation, guys.

elephant
象
Indy, riding an elephant out of the Indian village.

skirt
裳
Who wears a skirt like that in India? Really?

extract
抄
Indy finds an extract that tells of the 5 magic stones in sanskrit... brought to the village by a dying child.

voice
声
"The biggest problem with her is the noise" - says Indy of the annoying blonde. Her voice is pretty irritating.

sex
性
"I'm not that easy you primitive ape!"
"I'm not that easy either"
"Five minutes! You'll be back here in 5 minutes!"
"I'll be asleep in 5 minutes."

nitrate
硝
The inners of the cave/volcano area.

chant
唱
heart-taking-outing-scene.

char
焦
Sacrifice charred in a volcano.

auspicious
祥
All ancient religions have their strange, auspicious ceremonies. This one just happens to resemble the aztecs...

inter-
相
Indy and his shortround's interactions.

manipulate
掌
In order to manipulate Indy, they feed him that evil blood drink. [image: him writhing around on the stone bed surrounded by candles]

cosmetics
粧
How exactly does she manage to keep a fresh plate of make-up on throughout the entire film? (Or the laughable makeup of the cult priests)

collide
衝
The mining cart almost colliding with the wall, as Indy stops it with his shoes.

rise up
昇
Indy can rise up from the bottom of the cut wooden bridge. (the whole final action scene)

above
上
See above.

The Last Crusade


evidence
証
The tablet is seen as evidence that the holy grail really exists!

reparation
償
reparations for finding a 500 year old gold cross? Dinner and champagne. (also a general theme: he is always making mention of his payment for getting artifacts to the museum)

seduce
召
Dr. Snyder. Oh yea

beckon
招
See above

bell
鐘
Dr. Snyder, looks a southern-bell for a woman with a thick German accent

pure
清
The pure beauty of an afternoon lunch in Venice, ruined by Dr. Jones and Dr. Snyder crawling up out of the sewer. (outside of the library/church. Everyone in the scene is weairng pure white colors)

acquiesce
承
Indy acquiesces the nazis by handing over the book in exchange for Dr. Snyder's life! BIG MISTAKE!

resemblance
肖
Is there any resemblance between Indy and his father? Really?

leader
将
Indy and his father are constantly bickering over who is the leader!

sparkle
晶
The real holy grail is not one of the many sparkling cups in the last scene.

General Indy

attire
装
There are so many scenes to choose from. Any time Indy dons his hat, jacket, whip, any of his classic attire.

life
生
Indy risking his life again and again throughout each film.

star
星
He's the star. He has the luck of the stars to not be dead 100 times over already.

prize
賞
He's always going after some sort of prize.

esteem
尚
You can't help but hold Indy in high esteem; He's a believable yet noble hero, with somewhat flexible morals. (shooting nazis is 100% ok?)

surname
姓
His surname is just fine. Really, there's nothing wrong with Jones. It's the Indiana part that is just plain weird.

politics
政
Nazis.

reef
礁
Surfs up Indy! I imagine him holding a surfboard. Surely I won't forget.

introduce
紹
(don't need a story - 紹介する)

pine tree
松
I imagine Indy and his dad, gathered around a pine tree for Xmas

sue
訟
We oughtta sue Spielburg for Indiana Jones 4. Seriously, f**king aliens??!

artisan
匠
Steven Spielburg (in the 80s)



**RTK3**

small craft
艘
scout
哨
whisper
囁
harlot
娼
shire
庄
rubbing
摺
spoils
捷
yearn
憧
iris
菖
banana
蕉
mallet
樵
balancing scales
秤
concubine
妾
Chinese panpipe
笙
soy sauce
醤
hoe
鍬
rust
錆
cluster
鍾
saddle straps
鞘
accolade
頌
lick
嘗
soar
翔



Notes:

All finished! If I'm not mistaken this is the biggest on-yomi group, so WHEW. おつかれ. For the two people who follow my blog, I hope you enjoy it. :)

Ghostbusters キ

キ 53 characters.

"I am the キmaster... are you the gatekeeper?"

how many
幾
How many ghosts are there in this movie? How many people get marshmellowed?

strange
奇
Egon is the epitome of strange.
Venkman: "This reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head"
Egon: "That would have worked if you hadn't stopped me."

draw near
寄
As slimer draws near, Venkman really should have moved. Eww!

equestrian
騎
I thought there was nothing remotely equestrian (related to horse riding) in this movie, but one scene with Rick Moranis talking to a horse comes close!

mechanism
機
The traps, the zappers, this movie is loaded with awesome mechanisms.

spirit
気
I ain't 'fraid of no ghost!....or spirit!

vapor
汽
"At noon, 10 people witnessed a free floating full torso vaporous apparition!" - Ray, about the library ghost. Or you can think of vapor as dry ice, one of the most overused special effect of the 80s, and this movie is no exception.

desk
机
Venkman giving the poor guy with the fro electric shocks from across the wooden desk. or the secretary's desk in the GBs HQ.

hungry
飢
Slimer is always hungry!

previously
既
The GBs get kicked out of their previous college facilities. So, they take a previously run-down firehouse and turn it into HQ!

hope
希
Sygounrney Weaver hopes that the ghostbusters can help her!

standard
規
The GB's set the standard for "paranormal elimination" in NYC

dangerous
危
Don't cross the streams! It's too dangerous!!!

scribe
記
Janine Melnintz, the secretary, is a memorable scribe. I think of that scene where Egon pops out from under her desk. *AHEM*

self
己
Ray: "We really haven't had a successful test of this equipment
Egon: "I blame myself."
Venkman: "So do I."

rouse
起
The scene where Ray is roused from his sleep by a female ghost undoing his belt... I don't seem to remember that from when I was a kid, hmm...

chronicle
紀
Chronicle sounds like the name of a newspaper, so, the various newpaper headlines involving GBs that pop up during the montage.

mourning
忌
When Bill Murray thinks his girlfriend his dead (And doesn't know she is alive inside a crumbling shell of a statue)

national flag
旗
I imagine the national flag of zuul looks something like this.

chess piece
棋
Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis play characters who are used like chess pieces: the keymaster and the gatekeeper.

fundamentals
基
The fundamentals of ghostbusting: aim steady, set the trap and don't cross the streams!

period
期
Both Moranis and Weaver's characters (keymaster and gatekeeper) are possessed for a period of time in this movie.

branch off
岐
Venkman's expertise branches off into many fields, but mostly ghostbusting and lady killing.

brandish
揮
The GB's brandishing their badass zappers.

radiance
輝
This could reference many of the paranormal scenes of the movie... when Sigourney Weaver's characters sees the radiant light behind her door.

abandon
棄
The GBs are forced to abandon operations when they get arrested!

seasons
季
This kanji reminds of me of changes in weather, so I think of the dark clouds, storms and all around hell-breaking-loose weather that comes when Zuul is in season.

undertake
企
The GB's undertaking their first case, in the hotel.

homecoming
帰
The end of the movie.

precious
貴
Dr. Venkman, in the beginning of the movie, is loathe to collect the precious ectoplasm. "Somebody blows their nose and you wanna keep it?"

rut
軌
The GBs are in a "rut" when they are overloaded with work.

rejoice
喜
All of NYC rejoices when the Stay Puff Marshmellow Man is defeated!

utensil
器
utensil... this kanji is also used for weaponry. Hence, the GBs zappers (or protoplasm emitters if you prefer)

ghost
鬼
I ain't afraid of no ghost!

tortoise
亀
It just doesn't fit the flick, so, I imagine some kind of funky tortoise ghost, maybe Slimer's 2nd cousin twice removed...

pray
祈
when the catholic priest shows up in the mayor's office! "I'm not gonna call a press conference and tell everyone to start praying."


**RTK3**

break 毀
overjoyed 嬉
hollyhock 葵
glitter 暉
zelkova 槻
rocky beach 磯
sparse 稀
peep 稀
winnowing fan 箕
ornate 綺
kneel 跪
tuna 鮪
fish fin 鰭
giraffe 麒
capital suburbs 畿
stalwart 毅
cheer 煕

--

Notes: As you may have already noticed, I've added lists of kanji from Remember the Kanji 3 (an expansion of the first book with another 1000 characters) that match my on-yomi groups. My plan is to go back and make stories for them, most likely next year after I've learned them sufficiently. It will also be a good chance to review my old templates.

Notable, recurring correlations: 己、棋 (right side)、奇。This template is much more random than some previous ones.

This movie is just plain fun. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did, (if not for studying, than for the nostalgia!) I'm a busy man, but I'm trying to generally update once a week. See you next time...

The Shawshank Redemption カ

カ　44 characters.

add
加
Andy can really add! He crunches numbers, and wants to add funds to the library!

can
可
Morgan Freeman's first narrative line in the movie: "There must be a guy like me in every prison: I'm the guy who can get it for ya."

what
何
Red (Morgan Freeman) can get what you need.

baggage
荷
The emotional and physical baggage that Brooks (the old man) takes with him, leaving Shawshank.

song
歌
The whole bit with the opera song being played over the prison intercom!

river
河
River - up the river - prison - this movie!

change
化
Prison. It changes a man. Many men, in fact, in this film.

flower
花
The young buck Andy teaches for a year, a ripe flower in his youth, shot down on the Warden's orders.

freight
貨
It's a prison movie. Vagabonds riding freight-cars to get around isn't such a big stretch.

shoes
靴
Morgan Freeman: "I mean, seriously, how often do you ever look at a man's shoes?" [scene: Andy wearing dress shoes, not prison shoes, just before escaping.]

overdo
過
The fat guy getting beaten to death at the beginning of the film... talk about overdoing it, sheesh. Or any of the other harsh punishments in this movie... 2 months in the hole for Andy, killing his potential witness, etc.

whirlpool
渦
Whirlpool -> intense flows of water -> when Andy slips out of the pipe, 500 feet of raw waste, into a river during the storm.

calamity
禍
It was a real calamity when old-man Brooks was released after 50 years, and hung himself.

house
家
The first scene of the movie. Andy, gun and liquor in his lap, sitting outside his wife's lover's house.

marry into
嫁
One could say that Andy has "married into" his problems in this film. (unfaithful wife, framed for murder, etc.)

earnings
稼
Andy is the #1 guy when it comes to calculating earnings for prison guards (and preparing w2s)

summer
夏
The scene where they are tarring the roof, and enjoy some cold beers on a hot summer day.

widow
寡
The Warden's wife will be a widow after he blows his brains out!

fruit
果
The "fruits" (pardon my language) attacking/stalking/raping Andy. (Red calls them "the sisters")

chapter
課
How many chapters of the bible did Andy cut out to hide his rock-carving axe?

candy
菓
The "fruits" (sorry again) treat Tim like a piece of candy in this movie. Eck.

erect
架
I don't think this needs to be spelled out. =/

item
箇
Morgan Freeman - the man who can get any item you need, for enough "smokes."

melon
瓜
melons -> breasts -> something there is little to none of in this movie.

below
下
This movie is all about life below the surface. Life in jail.

fire
火
A fire. There are so many possibilities... and you probably already know it from 火曜日, but, for the sake of consistency: Andy lights a fire under young punk's ass to get his high school diploma.

department
科
Andy makes the library department of the prison something amazing!

splendor
華
The splendor of sweet, sweet freedom - this scene.

provisional
仮
The Warden's infamous provisional workforce, "the inside out program," where prisoners worked for nothing!

excellent
佳
Andy really had an excellent idea talking to the guard and suggesting he take a tax write off.

value
価
Andy really understands the value of things: music, money, hope, etc.

spare time
暇
In his spare time, Andy likes to carve chess pieces.... and plan prison breaks!


**RTK3**

eggplant 茄
bullying 苛
hackberry 榎
birch 樺
shrimp 蝦
pot 鍋
haze 霞
stretcher 駕
applaud 嘉
plentiful 夥
Sanskrit ka 珈
jeweled hairpin 迦

Notes: One of the first tricks I ever learned about reading kanji from my first teacher was this: sometimes you can find a "katakana clue" in the kanji to how it is read. Notice how many of the kanji in the カ group are pronounced as such.

Another tip, which may be painfully obvious but I'll mention it anyway, is when kanji share radicals or primitives, they tend to (it's by no means a golden rule) share pronunciations. There are 5 examples in this post: 可, 化, 過, 家, 果. The idea here is not to try to force each kanji into memorization, but to remember what I can, and with several similar kanji, remembering one can be the key to reading all of them. In other words, if only one of 3-5 stories stick where the kanji share primitive, I consider it a success (and you should too!).


--

Two really serious dramas in a row - expect something light-hearted, fun and from the 80s next week!

Gran Torino - ケイ

Gran Torino
ケイ
It's Oーケイ、people ケイn change.

46 characters

desire*
憬
It was Clint's desire to die for the sake of his friend, Thao and his family.

plot
計
This movie has one of the most unique plots I've seen in years.

mountain stream
渓
Sue corrects Clint: "We're not jungle people, we're a hill people." After the Vietnam War they left behind hills, valleys and mountain streams for Midwest America.

chicken
鶏
All the delicious-looking chicken presented in this movie, looks really tasty!

punish
刑
As punishment for trying to steal the Gran Torino, Tao is punished by his aggressive sister and mother by having to do chores for Clint.

mould; type*
型
The Gran Torino is an impressive type of car!

sutra
経
In the strange traditions portrayed in this movie, there are some rather odd sutras. [scene: the baby being blessed]

lightly
軽
Clint does not take people treading on his lawn or breaking his lawn gnomes lightly! [scene: Clint holding a gun to the portly gang member's face]

stalk
茎
[scene: Clint is prevented with stalks upon stalks of flowers and other plant-life, that he promptly throws in the trash]

diameter
径
If Clint didn't regularly drive around the diameter of the neighborhood regularly, with his gun on him, who knows what would have happened when Sue was getting harassed by those 3 black guys!

lineage
系
All the jokes about lineage in this movie. There are many to choose from. I imagine the scenes where Clint is getting his haircut, trading insults with the Barber.

person in charge
係
Is there any doubt Clint is the one in charge here? He carries the gun and talks hard. (and he directed the movie)

awe
敬
"We shot men, stabbed 'em with bayonets and hacked 17-year olds to death with shovels," says Clint of his Korean War days. Words to inspire awe.

admonish
警
Clint Eastwood admonishes, well, almost everyone in this movie (with some extreme racial slurs)

jubilation
慶
The look on Thao's face when he discovers he will inherit the Gran Torino.

put up a notice
掲
Somebody should have put up a notice about how dangerous the streets of this town can be - Thao and his sister seem totally oblivious.

elder brother
兄
Despite being the elder brother, Thao isn't strong enough to protect his sister.

vie
競
The rival gangs vying for territory and control in this movie.

Japanese Judas Tree
桂
With such a high Asian population in Clint's town, there must be some transplanted seeds - why not a Japanese Judas Tree (...maybe because no one in this movie is Japanese!)

square jewel
圭
Clint's lighter. "First Calvary, I've had it since '51."

recess
憩
The many scenes in this movie where Clint is sitting on his front porch with his talk, drinking Pap's Blue Ribbon, enjoying a lengthy recess (break).

favor
恵
Tao does many, many favors for Clint after he tries to steal the Gran Torino
-
Cross Connection: Cartman asks a favor of Clint Eastwood: "could you, like take this DNA test so I know if you're my father or not?"*

shape
形
Clint's body is in terrible shape throughout the whole movie [scene: any time he coughed up blood.]

inherit
継
Thao inherits the Gran Torino in the glorious final scene, as he drives off into the sunset.

scenery
景
The suggested scenery of Retirement Homes on his birthday enrages Clint beyond belief! Or, the beautiful scenery of the final scene.

portable
携
Ashley (the hot grandaughter) complaining that her portable phone won't work during the post-funeral services.

pledge
契
The priest pledged to Clint's dead wife that he would "tend to his flock," and is very persistent in holding true to this pledge.

disclose
啓
The gory details that Clint discloses about his war experiences in this movie. "We used to stack @#The gory details that Clint discloses about his war experiences in this movie. "We used to stack @#The gory details that Clint discloses about his war experiences in this movie. "We used to stack @#The gory details that Clint discloses about his war experiences in this movie. "We used to stack @#$&s like you 5 feet high in Korea, use ya for sandbags."
amp;s like you 5 feet high in Korea, use ya for sandbags."
amp;s like you 5 feet high in Korea, use ya for sandbags."

lean
傾
The Priest in this movie really leans on Clint to embrace his faith - he won't have it though.

capital
京
Murder, rape, many capitol offenses are committed in this movie.*

lightning bug
蛍
Clint's death scene. It was night, and as his body lay on the ground, I imagine lightning bugs circling the air.

boundary
境
There are incredible cultural boundaries overcome in this film.

**RTK3**

training 稽
silicon 珪
paddy-field ridge 畦
link up 繋
ruled lines 罫
visit a shrine 詣
about that time 頃
neck and throat 頚
astute 慧
magistrate 卿
ambrosial 馨
Andromeda 奎
shin 脛
formidable 勁


Notes: Woo! 30 kanji readings down, and even if I only remember 30 or 40% of them longterm, it's an achievement, and worth watching this wonderful film again.

You'll notice I call Clint Eastwood by his real name, and not his character (Walt Kowalski). It's easier for me to remember that way.

mould; type
This is an example of when I deviate from RTK method, in that I use multiple keywords. It's not often, but I have maybe 30 or 40 of these out of the 2000.

This is the first post to introduce a Cross Connection: That is a way to link a kanji with multiple readings to another story. This is entirely experimental and could get messy with kanji with 3 or 4 on-yomi (not sure how many there are), but I'm playing it by ear so far.

Capital/Capitol. Sometimes, for the sake of connecting a story to a movie, I'll do wordplay/substitute different words with same pronunciation, that kind of thing. It works for me, and I retain the original meaning because I already have that kanji's keyword lodged firmly in my mind.

*desire - not in RTK, but included in the new Joyo kanji list.

I hope you have enjoyed this. Another movie coming some time in the next week.

South Park - Season 2 Episode 2:"Cartman's Mom is still a Dirty Sl*t" - エイ

[You can watch this episode for free at www.southparkstudios.com]

South Park - Season 2 Episode 2:"Cartman's Mom is still a Dirty Sl*t"
エイ
エイ - 映画（えいが）movie. America's Most Wanted makes a movie out the South Park's shooting!

16 characters

eternity
永
Kenny reappears back from eternity for another episode!

swim
泳
Kenny (a.k.a. Team B) swims through sewage and snow to get to the power activation area.

recitation
詠
Cartman needs to recite all of "come sail away" after hearing the opening line.

England
英
The Dr. in this episode sounds rather campy. And English? (tho if so it's a terrible attempt at it)

reflect
映
The people of South Park deciding to eat Eric Roberts doesn't reflect well on their morals.

occupation
営
The Hells Pass Hospital in South Park is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" - hence their quadriplegic nurse. (Image: Remember when she hands the doctor the needle with her mouth. Despite her handicap, she does great at her occupation!)

defense
衛
Mrs. Cartman sleeps with every politician in defense of her beliefs about abortion! (or was it adoption...)

pointed
鋭
Cartman's pointed attitude when it comes to finding out who his father is! Or the quadriplegic nurse holding the long, pointed needle in her mouth.

shadow
影
Mephesto is shot in shadow... or when the power goes out, putting the town and hospital in
shadow.

flourish
栄
After the fetus has flourished to the "40th" trimester, it's too late to get an abortion! Poor Mrs. Cartman!

**RTK3**

sucking infant
嬰
crystal stone
瑛
brush tip
穎
drag
曳
dribble out
洩
sapience
叡

--

Notes: I decided to go ahead and make this episode be my template for エイ; If I find it confusing (in correlation with the previous episode, which I don't think I will since they're pretty different in plot besides a running gag) I'll redo it later.

There are some good examples in here of stories that I personally don't even need. I already know 英語 (English) and 映画 (movie) and you probably do too, it's beginner's material. I'm putting them in for the sake of completion and, perhaps, readers of this blog, assuming it builds some kind of following. But I know those two stories are lame (connecting England with this episode was tough), so if anyone has any better/alternative ideas please submit them. A few of the other characters in this group I'm familiar with, such as 栄養 (えいよう nutrition) or 水泳 (すいえい swimming) but could definitely use the reinforcement on them. And the rest are brand new to me, as far as on-yomi goes.

I've been itching to get started on this project for a while, and the momentum is full speed for now! Work should keep me busy but I will try to get another movie template done this week. I want to crank out a lot of these this summer, before I'm bogged down with JLPT2 studying in the fall.

South Park - Season 1 Episode 13:"Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Sl*t" - エ

This next template is an example of what I'll be doing for on-yomi groups with too few kanji to make a whole movie template. I was 13 when I saw this episode, and I remember being extremely annoyed when they opened the next season with Terrence and Philip instead of the legitimate sequel. (there was actually a huge, unanticipated surge of complaints to Comedy Central as a result) If the show aired in Japan, perhaps there would have been one loud, resounding え？！？

[You can watch this episode for free at www.southparkstudios.com]

South Park - Season 1 Episode 13:"Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Sl*t"
エ
" エ! Kitty, that's my corn-beef cabbage! That's a bad kitty!"

favor
恵
Mr. Mackey asks a favor of the boys, to videotape Cartman's strange behavior.

meeting
会
Mrs. Cartman's infamous meeting with Eric Cartman's... father(s)?! (Chef, Chief, Mr. Garrison, pick your favorite)

picture
絵
The end of this episode is the picture of suspenseful cliffhangers. (this one was a bit difficult)

-times
回
How many different times does Cartman's Dad's identity change in this episode?!

garment - reliant
衣 依
Cartman is reliant on his "Naive American" garments to understand his "father." And his hip hop garment when he thinks Chef is his father. ("Oh my God! I'm a black African American!)

--

Notes: 回向 (えこう), Buddhist memorial service is the only compound with 回 using that pronunciation (which I could find in my Nelson's Kanji Dictionary); かい is MUCH much more common. However, since it's a valid pronunciation it's included in the list. This is a problem - the problem of multiple 音読み - we'll run into time and again, and it really can't be helped - しょがない as the saying goes. If there is any way to mentally link the two or three movie templates which share a kanji reading, that might be a good strategy. For example, assuming I used 回(かい) for, say, Die Hard - "how many times does Bruce Willis almost die in this movie?" Imagine Eric Cartman thinking John McClain is his father. It's a bit of a stretch, but from what I've read (and my own imaginative experiences learning kanji) this kind of thing does work - I will report on how it works for me, anyhow.

The real conundrum here is, should I use the sequel to this episode (Cartman's Mom is still a Dirty Sl*t) as a template for エイ, the elongated version of this reading? Or would it be too confusing? Looking for feedback, thanks.

Half Baked - イン

What better way to start a blog about memory than a movie about the lack thereof? The first template is for Half-Baked, a 90's stoner comedy featuring Dave Chappelle, and favorite movie of mine back when I was in high school.

HALF-BAKED
イン
Can Thurgood save Kenny from Nasty Nate イン time?!

employee
員
Kenny Davis the kindergarten teacher is not a model employee - neither is the rest of the group! (Scarface with his burger job or Thurgood, stealing from his employers)

rhyme
韻
"It's hard bein black and gifted, sometimes I just wanna throw it all down and get lifted!" or "candy makes you dandy"

cause
因
The cause of every problem in this movie is weed. The cause of this movie is weed. Cause = weed = half baked.

matrimony
姻
The way this movie ends it's like Thurgood dumped weed to end up in holy matrimony with Mary Jane.

Inst.
院
Kenny Davis the kindergarten teacher is institutionalized after he gets busted! Image: Nasty Nate staring and Kenny... in the shower.

sound
音
Jerry Garcia performing in Brian's (Jim Breuer's) ear-lobe.

stamp
印
The stamp of Sampson and the stamp of Mr. Smiley are both infamous stamps in this flick!

pull
引
The memorable way Snoop Dog pulls on a joint in this movie.

drink
飲
Kenny emerging from the slurpee machine after he first gets high: "I've never felt so thirsty, in my entire life!"

shade
陰
When Mr. Sampson is introduced, the lighting is dim, he sits in the shade of his fire surrounded by ninja women (with hair-curlers on).

license
允
A license to teach - something Kenny Davis the kindergarten teacher would love to get back (and I wonder how he got it in the first place...)

conceal
隠
Scarface, trying to conceal his identity by dressing up and acting like a mime.

**RTK3**

windpipe
咽
lewd
淫
behind the scenes
蔭
parakeet
鸚
blood relative
胤