> “I really like this contrast.” > “The comparison hits the nail on the head.” I was especially happy to hear that you liked the contrast between British and Japanese food cultures. I had been wondering whether the comparison might be a little too speculative, so your comment that “the comparison hits the nail on the head” was very encouraging. > “My experience with British cuisine could be summed up in a few words: nothing to write home about.” I also really enjoyed learning the expressions “nothing to write home about” and “My curiosity got the best of me.” They are expressions I would like to be able to use naturally myself. > “Maybe, to use a British expression, the proof is in the pudding. That is, Japanese food is light and healthy, and it is more unique than British food.” I found your answer to my question very interesting. I had been focusing mainly on the historical causes, but your comment made me realize that the characteristics of the food itself may also have influenced how it was received internationally. It gave me another perspective from which to explore this question. I also suspect that you deliberately chose “the proof is in the pudding” because our topic was food. I really enjoy this kind of witty and intellectually stimulating exchange with you, and I always learn a lot from it. Thank you for teaching me such a wonderful idiom! Thank you also for sharing your own experiences and thoughts!
Please don't apologize for nitpicking! That's exactly why I choose you every time. I value not only your grammatical corrections but also the back-and-forth exchange of ideas with you, which has become a real intellectual pleasure for me. As is usually the case with these assignments, I'm not particularly attached to my own position on the topic. I think a reasonable argument could be made for either side. When I decide which side to take, I usually choose the one that I think will be more challenging for me to express in English. So, for this assignment, although I can understand both the arguments for and against dual nationality, I chose to argue against it because I thought that position would be more challenging for me to write about in English. So I have absolutely no objection to your having played the "dual citizen card." In fact, I completely understand why you did so. Having said that, the first thing I want to make clear is that I thought your feedback was perfect, as always. I completely agree with your comment that it was a little confusing to see the same idea mentioned a second time. That was actually the one part I had some doubts about when I submitted the essay. Looking back, perhaps this was a topic I should have explored in 200 words rather than trying to squeeze everything into 100. You mentioned that nationality itself would cease to exist, and that is actually exactly what I was trying to say. A world in which everyone held multiple nationalities would effectively be a world in which nationality itself had lost much of its meaning. That said, I am not opposed to such a world; in some ways, I even think it might be ideal. I wanted to emphasize this idea by approaching it from two different directions: first, if our rights and obligations were the same regardless of which country we lived in, national borders would effectively cease to exist; and second, even if national borders remained, if everyone held multiple nationalities, those borders would effectively lose their meaning. Looking back, though, I think I needed at least one more sentence between those two ideas to make the logical connection clearer. As for your question about how it might be possible for someone not to fulfill their obligations, the clearest example I can think of is compulsory military service. Suppose someone held citizenship in a country with conscription as well as citizenship in another country. If the former were to go to war, that person might be able to move to the latter and thereby avoid taking part in the war. This is the kind of situation I had in mind when I wrote "while avoiding some of the obligations." On the other hand, there is certainly a counterargument to what I have just said. Even Israel, a country facing serious security threats, allows its citizens to hold additional nationalities while still imposing military obligations on them. So, perhaps this is putting it too strongly, but holding only one nationality may not necessarily have a strong connection with one's loyalty to one's country. I look forward to continuing to learn from your guidance and to many more intellectually stimulating exchanges with you.
> These are fine on their own, but together they create a staccato rhythm — too many stops, not enough development. Thank you so much for your feedback! I was especially happy with your comments on the conversational parts of my writing. I had deliberately used expressions like “though” and “you know” to give those sentences a more conversational tone, so I really appreciated that you did not simply discourage me from using them. Instead, you looked at the writing from a different angle and pointed out how the three short sentences together created a staccato rhythm. That was a perspective I had not considered at all. It was really helpful to learn that an expression can work perfectly well on its own, yet still affect the rhythm of the paragraph when combined with the sentences around it. This kind of feedback is exactly what I find most valuable. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback. As you mentioned, some Japanese companies have stopped transferring their employees unless they agree to relocate. Such companies are still rare, though. Perhaps I would be forced to relocate from Tokyo within a couple of years. It would be my fifth time of transfer. I’m thinking I will leave the company before that. As always, tour detailed explanations were easy to follow, and the alternative sentences you offered me were very useful. In particular, “be considered the norm” and “be regarded as a natural progression into adulthood” were interesting phrases.
> I used 'step in' which is less formal. Thank you! I did not know that “step in” could be used this way. It is useful to know not only the expression itself, but also that it is less formal than “provide subsidies” or similar expressions. I would like to become more conscious of differences in register. > Excellent wrap up of your argument! I was especially happy to read this comment. In my previous essay, you pointed out that the connection between my last two sentences needed to be clearer. So this time, I deliberately tried to make the argument progress step by step and then return to my main point in the final sentence. I’m glad that this worked better! > You would make a worthy 'opponent!' What perfect timing! I had just been reviewing the differences between “worth,” “worthwhile,” and “worthy,” including the expression “worthy of respect.” Then I found “worthy opponent” in your message! Seeing a word I have just studied used naturally like this really helps it stick in my mind. > I'd like to know where you became fluent in English. Actually, I have never lived in an English-speaking country. Most of my English has been learned in Japan through studying, reading, listening, and, more recently, writing every day. I still don’t consider myself fluent, especially when speaking, but your comment was very encouraging. Thank you!
> It was kind of interesting to see your way of taking the reader on a little roundabout by expressing a strong liking for natto from the very first; going on to say that you would eat it even if it didn't have the cognitive benefits it is claimed to have. Thank you! I was very happy that you noticed the way I structured the essay. I did not consciously intend to create suspense, but looking back, I can see how withholding the real reason I eat natto until the end makes the reader curious. Your comments about “a cliffhanger” and “keeping a card up your sleeve” were especially interesting to me. > However, your last two sentences needed a bit of a boost; saying that stretching and avoiding greasy foods is connected to natto how? I see exactly what you mean. What I wanted to say was that getting older has made me more conscious of my health in general. Stretching and not being able to eat as much greasy food as before were meant to be examples of that change, and eating natto is another example. I now realize that I left that connection entirely up to the reader. Adding just one sentence such as “As I get older, I’ve become more conscious of my health” would make the logic much clearer. > Also, in your conclusion, you say that you eat it for health reasons, but in one sentence you claim that you'd eat it even if it weren't for that. This comment made me think carefully about what I actually meant. I did not mean that I would eat natto even if it had no health benefits at all. I meant that I would keep eating it even if its specific effect on preventing cognitive decline were never proven. I still believe that natto is generally good for my health. I can now see that my wording did not make that distinction clear enough. Thank you for being so picky—I really appreciate the fact that you leave no stone unturned!
> I like the idiom “roll out.” For a more formal tone, you can use “expand.” Thank you! I was glad to learn that “roll out” works well here, and it was also useful to learn that “expand” is a better choice when I want a more formal tone. I would like to become more conscious of this difference in register. > I like the way you connect the dots without giving away all the information at once. I was especially happy to read this comment. I had deliberately tried to move from Nihon Kotsu’s political clout to Japan’s restrictions on ridesharing without explaining everything immediately, so your comment helped me realize that this kind of progression can make an argument more engaging. > It is interesting to read that Nihon Kotsu was dead set against ridesharing but is now joining forces with Waymo. I learned two very useful expressions from this sentence: “be dead set against” and “join forces with.” Both are vivid and much more natural than the expressions I would probably have chosen myself. Thank you also for looking up Nihon Kotsu after reading my message!
> Good start. However, the part of “what Japan should do is” complicates the sentence a bit and is unnecessary. I had to read it twice to make sure it was correct. I would also use “lives” because you have “people.” Thank you! Your comment that you had to read the sentence twice really hit home. When I read it again myself, I realized that the way I had structured the sentence was very Japanese. It reminded me that grammatical correctness alone is not enough and that readability is just as important. > Having said that, the gap has to be bridged because we don’t want women being left out of jobs or political careers because of their gender. I completely agree. That is also why I wrote in my message that I believe Japan still has many issues that need to be addressed. By the way, I had just been reviewing expressions similar to “That said,” so seeing you naturally use “Having said that” here was perfect timing for me! > “That way” is great, but you can also use “gender parity” or “gender representation,” for example. I also learned the expression “gender parity” for the first time! It is such a concise and useful term when discussing this kind of topic.
The sentence, “The blog made for a compelling read, offering glimpses into people’s lives by drawing back the curtain on the belongings they had left behind and the condition of their rooms,” was so beautifully written that I read it aloud over and over again. Until now, I had only known the expression “a glimpse of,” but thanks to your feedback, I learned “a glimpse into” and the difference between the two. I was especially captivated by the beautiful way you used “glimpses into” together with the image of drawing back a curtain. I also read that it was your brother’s birthday. Happy birthday to him! Celebrating someone’s special day, whether with family or friends, really does make us happy, doesn’t it? Have a wonderful weekend!
>However, conclusions should not have new information thrown in unless this is only a part of your writing. Thank you for this very helpful feedback. I hadn’t realized it until you pointed it out, but you’re absolutely right. I’m sure there was a better way to wrap up the essay without introducing new information at the end. I learned a lot from this! >How would you weigh your decision to get married vs the one your siblings and friends made? I think both my decision to get married and my siblings’ and friends’ decisions to remain single are perfectly fine. It’s simply a matter of choice. Some people might look at me and think I lost something by getting married. In fact, when I was single, I sometimes felt the same way about married people. But after getting married, I realized that while I may have lost some things, I’ve also gained a lot. That doesn’t mean I think I’ve gained something that single people haven’t. Someone once said that comparing yourself to others is the beginning of unhappiness, and I think that pretty much sums it up. 】I ended up throwing away a lot of books and refused to even give them away. The book was reprinted and there were no issues. I totally understand how you felt! I feel the same way when I find a mistake in a document I’ve created for work. Even if I’m probably the only person who would ever notice it, I still regret it. After all, it’s my work, just like a painting is an artist’s work. So you’ve published books! That explains a lot. Now I understand where your deep insight into writing and your strong sense of logic come from. Are you a writer? That’s amazing! 】My explanation was that men don't discuss such things as much as women do. Yeah, I think you’re right. I don’t know if this is true of all men, but my male friends and I have never really talked much about relationships, even when we were younger. We mostly talked about motorcycles and cars. Come to think of it, maybe none of us, myself included, was very popular with women, so perhaps we just didn’t have much of a love life to talk about! Haha.
Oh no, I can’t believe I left out “will”! Such a basic mistake. I’m really frustrated with myself for missing that. I also didn’t know the expression “weave A into B,” but interestingly, Japanese has an expression that is almost identical in meaning. Language is fascinating that way. “Ramble on and on” was new to me too. When I looked up the meaning of “ramble,” I realized that Japanese also has a very similar way of expressing the same idea. I really enjoy the process of organizing my thoughts as I write and thinking about how best to communicate them to another person. Writing sometimes feels to me like painting or sculpture: when it is done well, it can be beautiful, and perhaps even become a form of art. Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful feedback.
Thank you very much for your detailed feedback. Your comment that I could have mentioned regenerative medicine itself a little more in relation to these regulations, and that this branch of medicine was the real core of the issue, was extremely insightful. I felt as though you had seen right through me. I agree with you 100%. That was exactly what I should have focused on more. At the same time, given the 100-word limit, I chose this time to prioritize using phrases and vocabulary that I had recently learned. What I always appreciate about your feedback is that you do not look at my writing only as an English exercise. I can also sense your perspective of asking, “How can you communicate what you want or need to say to the reader as effectively as possible?” That is one of the reasons I trust your guidance so much. I had not known the word “acumen,” so I learned something new from your comment as well. Thank you again, and I look forward to your continued guidance.
Thank you, as always, for helping me expand the range of expressions I can use. I already knew the word "refrain," but seeing "refrain from cooperating" used in this context was a real eye-opener. I thought, "Oh, so that's how I can use it!" It really clicked for me, and I was very happy because it felt like I was turning vocabulary I already knew into something I could actually use. As for the game theory point, I left out the details because of the word limit. More precisely, what I meant was: "In a prisoner's-dilemma-type situation, the most rational decision is to refrain from cooperating." Thank you again for your helpful feedback! Best, Tomo_0111
Thank you very much for your detailed feedback. I found your comments especially helpful in understanding the difference between conversational and more formal writing. Your explanation of “has suffered from it” and “has been suffering from it” was also very useful, especially the idea that the present perfect connects a past experience to the present. I also learned a lot from expressions such as “diligence with his treatment” and “project into the future.” As for the style I would like to work on, I think semi-formal writing would suit me best. I would like my English to sound natural and conversational, but still appropriate for written English. When there is a useful difference, I would be happy to see both a conversational version and a slightly more formal version. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback.
Thank you very much for your detailed feedback. Your point about making the connection between foreign workers and investment in labor-saving technologies more explicit was specially helpful. I can see that “innovation” was too broad for what I wanted to say. I also found your suggestion about playing devil’s advocate useful, and I would like to try that structure in a future essay. Thank you again, and I hope you have a great weekend too.
