Virtual Trophy Room・資格

When diving into a new interest or hobby, I always like to come out with some physical milestone of my progress. In Japan, they call this 資格マニア, meaning a person maniacal (マニア) about acquiring certifications (資格) through exam-taking, or someone certifiably obsessed, you could say.

Jokes aside, I do find the structured path of such exams extremely helpful in terms of motivation, guidance and progress-tracking, and passing earns you real, tangible credentials.

✍️ Kanji Aptitude Test | 👨‍🏫 Kanji Education | 🍃 Japanese Tea | 🗣️ Vocal Performance | 🀄️ Mahjong

漢字検定・Kanji Aptitude Test️

漢字検定１級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 1

November 2012

Passed on 5th attempt with 164/200 points

漢字検定準１級

Kanji Kentei, Grade pre-1

February 2011

Passed on 2nd attempt meeting the passing line of 160 points exactly

漢字検定２級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 2

June 2010

Originally, I studied for both grade 2 and pre-2. I figured pre-2 is like an easier version 2, right? So I scheduled both on the same day thinking if I failed 2, I would still get pre-2 as the consolation prize, but...

漢字検定準２級

Kanji Kentei, Grade pre-2

June 2015

...as you can see by the dates, I somehow passed grade 2 but failed pre-2 on my first attemp. After getting grade 1, I went back and filled in this and other grades I skipped or failed.

漢字検定３級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 3

May 2015

Skipped originally, went back and passed later

漢字検定４級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 4

March 2015

On my first runthrough from grade 8 to 1, this was the first grade I failed, and it was by a single point, so I decided to skip ahead and study for grade 2.

漢字検定５級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 5

February 2009

Somehow misplaced the fancy certificate for this one...

漢字検定６級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 6

November 2008

The second exam I ever took

漢字検定６級・満点

Kanji Kentei, Grade 6

January 2019

Perfect Score certificate

漢字検定７級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 7

March 2015

Skipped originally, went back and passed later

漢字検定７級・満点

Kanji Kentei, Grade 7

March 2015

Perfect Score certificate

漢字検定８級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 8

July 2008

The very first exam I took

漢字検定８級・満点

Kanji Kentei, Grade 8

November 2014

Perfect score certificate

漢字検定９級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 9

July 2014

Skipped originally, went back and passed later

漢字検定９級・満点

Kanji Kentei, Grade 9

July 2014

Perfect Score certificate

漢字検定１０級

Kanji Kentei, Grade 10

February 2014

Skipped originally, went back and passed later

漢字検定１０級・満点

Kanji Kentei, Grade 10

February 2014

Perfect Score certificate

漢字教育・Kanji Education

白川静漢字教育賞・優秀賞

Shirakawa Shizuka Kanji Education Award

October 2016

Recognized for excellence in kanji education

漢字教育士

Kanji Educator

June 2013

Issued by Ritsumeikan University

漢字教育サポーター

Kanji Education Supporter

March 2013

Part of the inaugural class held in 2013, became the first foreigner certified

日本茶・Japanese Tea

製茶手揉教師補

Temomi Tea Artisan, Apprentice

November 2023

Two-day practical exam producing tea by hand. Everything from picking to steaming, rolling and drying.

日本茶インストラクター

Japanese Tea Instructor

April 2021

Written and practical exam on Japanese teas, including history, cultivation, production, appraisal, preparation, sales, health benefits, and more.

講座優秀修了証

Japanese Tea Instructor Course Completion

July 2020

Comprehensive course on Japanese tea. Completing the course grants you "Advisor" level with an optional yearly exam to earn the official "Instructor" level.

日本茶検定１級

Japanese Tea Aptitude Test, Grade 1

April 2021

A web-based test that covers information from the Instructor course. A good entry point for people curious about Japanese Tea.

Vocal Performance・話芸️

朗読検定２級

Recitation Exam, Grade 2

October 2021

Professional level. Tests ability to perform multiple characters with near-perfect pitch-accent, diction and with appropriate expressiveness.

朗読検定準２級

Recitation Exam, Grade pre-2

April 2021

Stepping stone to build confidence and ability for Grade 2 exam

朗読検定５級〜３級

Recitation Exam, Grades 5-3

2020

No photos on hand, will have to upload later

朗読検定６級

Recitation Exam, Grade 6

October 2019

Expert level of the Junior test, which is designed for schoolkids.

朗読検定７級

Recitation Exam, Grade 7

October 2019

Upper beginner level of the Junior test

朗読検定１０級〜７級

Recitation Exam, Grades 10~7

2019

The Junior level of the test meant for schoolkids to practice reading aloud. The "professional" version begins at grade 4.

滑舌検定２級

Enunciation Exam, Grade 2

October 2020

Focuses more on speed and accuracy of speech using tongue twisters and story excerpts. Grade 2 is Expert level.

滑舌検定４級

Enunciation Exam, Grade 4

December 2019

Advanced level, focuses on mastery of pitch accent.

滑舌検定５級

Enunciation Exam, Grade 5

October 2019

Advanced level

滑舌検定６級

Enunciation Exam, Grade 6

September 2019

Intermediate level

滑舌検定７級

Enunciation Exam, Grade 7

September 2019

Intermediate level

外郎売チャレンジ

Uirō-uri Challenge

November 2021

Recitation of a classic kabuki monologue Uirō-uri (roughly, The Medicine Man), a near 2,000-character tongue twister that takes almost 7 minutes to perform. Scored 982 out of 1000, qualifying as a performance instructor.

外郎売コンテスト

Uirō-uri Contest

November 2019

Recited Uirō-uri on stage set to the tune of Tora-san's Theme at a contest in Iwate prefecture and was voted "Best Performance." It's a long story I may elaborate on later.