#skill update

i think it was the same before. i used to memorize all his verses in all the songs, generally understanding the lyrics and maybe picking up words i thought knowing would be cool (like 生態系 or 義務教育 or 成長痛, off the top of my head lol), but i wasn't actively parsing the grammar or committing them to memory in an effort to actually be able to use japanese, i just wanted to do my baby's rap lol. i also remember skimming through arb stories or listening to drama tracks and looking words up in the dictionary, then being done with it after without thinking about it again.

before i came to japan in 2023, i had already passed the n3 level for the jlpt. when i think about it, i'm not sure how i even got there... i'll admit i wasn't studying very seriously even after taking a beginner course at my university, and even after i came to japan, i was kind of a little passive about it for most of 2024, just picking up things here and there out of necessity and some natural frequency of encounters. but, when i got back into hypmic last year, i became determined to try studying more seriously so that i could catch up on everything i missed, and, more importantly, i kid you not, understand everything saburo is saying.

i started checking hypmic out again when i heard news about the movie coming out- since i would be watching it here in japan, it wouldn't have any subtitles and i wanted to be able to understand everything. also, i was invited to karaoke with a friend who had watched rhyme anima casually and thought hypmic songs would be fun to do for karaoke. i was so on board- on spotify, i would listen to songs while looking at the lyrics. 3$EVEN and IGWP were the two songs that got me into hypmic in the first place way back in 2018, and i decided i wanted to be able to read those lyrics without the furigana (even though karaoke would have them lol). i also wanted to be able actually understand the songs as i did. anyway that's where it all re-started :)

i use renshuu, an app that lets me make custom lists of words to study. not #sponsored or #affiliated but im a renshuu glazer lol. i would look up every word that i was unfamiliar with, or that i knew but hadn't really Mastered, and add them to my lists manually to study. doing that takes the most time and effort, but the spaced repetition system of the quizzes really worked for me, and the pay-off has been so so so worth it. i've been doing that consistently all this time, and today, my list reached 5k words, which i think is pretty crazy. :)

renshuu also has an Activity heatmap feature that shows you how much you're studying everyday and every week, and above is a screenshot of it from june when i was only a few months into it. you could really see when i started locking in and studying for real lol. by july i had finally properly established a routine where i was actively studying everything i was picking up.

i remember at this time reflecting about how through hypmic content i was picking up a lot of words that i didn't think i would really need or be able to use in everyday conversations (looking at you samatoki and dice) but i thought there was value in the discipline of the process of studying itself, and in my head, it was like how algebra itself might be whatever in real life but the finding solutions part of it was supposed to be good for your brain. as for these days, it continues to give me unparalleled dopamine hits when i find a word i learned from hypmic out in the wild, like some other song or video or even a textbook. the other way around is great too, when i noncommittally study something off the jlpt lists and see it mentioned in hypmic lyrics or stories. it's also hilarious and fun to impress my japanese coworkers with how i know some expressions you'd never find in a textbook (フルボッコ which i learned from ichiro was a good one that they wouldnt stop laughing at) so!

best of all, i'm enjoying it a lot. i'm understanding the smartass things saburo is saying, and learning little facts and tidbits about everyone, like words they would use in things they would say in situations they would be in. it fuels a lot of headcanons and fic ideas that... i haven't had time to spare for, but it's fun to have my own interpretations of the characters. it's rewarding like nothing else, like... everyone has their own interpretations of characters, naturally, but i only have to care about the saburo that i've come to learn about and love more and more everyday by directly consuming content in japanese. it's such a special feeling.

this is my heatmap as of today :) i've been consistent about studying, even when i have little outings, collab-driven or otherwise, or even when i went on a long vacation during my winter break. i'm always, always so excited to learn new words and phrases from saburo, and from hypmic content in general. i even started getting productive things out of it, like my translation summaries (which i'll be migrating over to this main blog in the coming days), and the motivation to continue studying n1 kanji even if i don't think i want to take n1.

anyway i'm in the language-learning Sphere so i see that many people lose motivation and burn out from studying for the jlpt and end up quitting studying japanese altogether. i'm happy to say i'm safe from that. part of it is routine, but a bigger part is the enjoyment. of course, when i decided in august that i would take the jlpt, i had to actually learn practical words, so i used renshuu's premade n2 lists. but i didn't want to stop studying my own personal shit, so i was putting in the effort to study both at once. there was a good chunk of a crossover section there though, i imagine. when i looked up some words from saburo especially, i would see them tagged as n2 or n1 level so it was motivating too lol.

now that i've taken and passed the test, i'm back to just adding new words from hypmic, but i kept the n2 words to study with the spaced repetition so i continue to encounter them every now and then. i'm also studying n1 kanji plus i Might go and study n1 words at some point, but it'll be because knowing more just means that i can understand more when i encounter them while messing around with hypmic :) lmao.

also i enjoy hypmic for studying because there's just so much content out there in different formats. like i can listen to songs and practice karaoke, i can replay the drama tracks from long ago, i can go through arb stories, i can read articles in the fan club magazine, i can skim through the manga- and every time, i would always pick up something new, or find that i understand something i couldn't before because i've been studying. also, because the characters all have their different things going on, i learn a wide variety of things you know?? it's so so so so so much fun. i want to keep having fun like this for a long time :) my sincere hope for anyone studying japanese is to find a series they like this much- in my case, i'm pretty good with this. damn, talk about no better time to say 世話になるぜヒプノシスマイク

[~☆~]

This Week's Events

● Warm Message (Comment Event)    ○ Notice: [X] ● Lucky Badge Draw ● Abyss Week    ○ Play 1 match, earn Abyss Ash x1 (x5).    ○ Exchange abyss materials into higher grades.       ○ Abyss Ash x3 → Abyss Frag x1 (x5)       ○ Abyss Frag x3 → Abyss Crystal x1 (x5) ● Glutton Goblin - Craft/Refine ● Gotcha! - Gems/Topaz Combine

[~☆~]

New Skill: Noise Pop!

● Edition: Apply [Ear Ringing] to selected opponent and summon them to your random city.    ○ Ear Ringing: Reduce goods effect chance -50%, then select opponent's main goods slot and reduce its activation by 1. A new skill costs at least 10K+ gems to obtain enough scrolls required to craft the edition grade of the new skill in Craft. This is assuming you DON’T get it through the gem combine before reaching the required amount of scrolls. This also includes making use of Card Craft to combine your duplicate grades into a higher grade, which counts towards providing you scrolls. Attempting to craft Asura grade requires on average 10-14+ magnifiers. Upon reaching 100% appraisal, your collector grade will turn into Asura/your collector will be replaced with Asura (i.e. you will no longer own the collector “map edition” of that skill).

[~☆~]

This Week's Events

● Golden Shark Token    ○ Purchase a token every 8 hours for a set amount of time.    ○ If you obtain 15 tokens, you can trade for 300 topaz. ● Suspicious GF Clock - Craft/Refine ● Fever Time - Gems/Topaz Combine

[~☆~]

New Skill: Shadow Plunder

● Edition: Pay 20% of my JOY as a bet to hire [Shadow]. Grant [Camouflage] to self for the next dice roll. [Shadow] moves instead and then vanishes.    ○ Camouflage: Your character cannot change locations through other effects, and unable to use a Skill/Joker.    ○ Shadow: Not treated as a character. Upon arriving at an owned city, steal JOY equal to x20 the total toll of cities within 1 block from a random opponent. A new skill costs at least 10K+ gems to obtain enough scrolls required to craft the edition grade of the new skill in Craft. This is assuming you DON'T get it through the gem combine before reaching the required amount of scrolls. This also includes making use of Card Craft to combine your duplicate grades into a higher grade, which counts towards providing you scrolls. Attempting to craft Asura grade requires on average 10-14+ magnifiers. Upon reaching 100% appraisal, your collector grade will turn into Asura/your collector will be replaced with Asura (i.e. you will no longer own the collector "map edition" of that skill).

Why AIOps is the "Gold Mine" for 2026

In the previous two years, businesses integrated AI haphazardly. Now, those systems are "hallucinating," leaking data, or becoming too expensive to maintain. An AIOps specialist is the "mechanic" who ensures the AI engine doesn't overheat.

According to 2026 recruitment data, the average salary for an entry-level AIOps specialist in Tier-1 regions (US/UK/Canada) ranges from $115,000 to $145,000, with senior roles easily clearing the $200k mark.

Phase 1: Months 1-2 | The Foundation of AI Literacy

You cannot manage what you do not understand. Your first 60 days should be focused on "The Three Pillars."

1. Understanding Model Architectures

You don't need to build them from scratch, but you must understand how LLMs (Large Language Models) and Diffusion Models differ. Learn the difference between "Inference" and "Training." * Action Step: Complete a free "Generative AI Fundamentals" course from a provider like Google Cloud or Microsoft Learn.

2. Prompt Operations (PropOps)

In 2026, prompt engineering has evolved into "PropOps"—the ability to create reusable, scalable prompt templates that an entire company can use safely. * Action Step: Study "Chain of Thought" prompting and automated prompt evaluation tools.

3. Data Governance

AI is only as good as the data it eats. Learn about data privacy laws (like the updated 2026 GDPR standards) and how to identify "bias" in a dataset.

Phase 2: Months 3-4 | Tools of the Trade

This is where you become "Certified" and attractive to recruiters. In 2026, certifications often carry more weight than degrees if they come from industry leaders.

Required Tech Stack to Learn:

Vector Databases: Learn how tools like Pinecone or Weaviate store AI "memories."

Monitoring Platforms: Familiarize yourself with AI monitoring dashboards (Datadog or New Relic for AI). You need to know how to spot "Model Drift."

No-Code Orchestration: Many AIOps tasks are now handled by tools like Zapier Central or Make.com. Mastering these allows you to automate entire departments without writing a single line of Python.

The "Golden" Certification for 2026:

Aim for the "Certified AI Operations Professional (CAIOP)" or the "AWS Certified AI Practitioner." Having these on your LinkedIn profile is the fastest way to trigger recruiter outreach.

Phase 3: Months 5-6 | Portfolio and the "Human" Edge

By month five, you have the knowledge. Now you need the proof.

Building your "AIOps Journal"

Create a public repository or a series of case studies. For example: * "How I reduced AI hallucination rates in a customer service chatbot by 30% using RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)." * "Comparison of 3 AI Coding Assistants for Enterprise Security."

The "Hidden" Job Search Strategy

Don't just apply on LinkedIn. In 2026, the best AIOps jobs are found in niche communities. Join AI-focused Slack groups, Discord servers for developers, and attend "Virtual AI Summits."

When you interview, don't talk about "AI." Talk about "ROI, Stability, and Scalability." That is what companies are hiring for.

Final Thoughts: The Cost of Waiting

The window to enter AIOps as an "early adopter" is closing. As more professionals realize the value of this niche, the competition will increase. By starting your roadmap today, you position yourself as a veteran in a field that is still finding its footing.

The future of work isn't about humans vs. AI—it’s about humans who manage AI vs. those who don't.

[~☆~]

This Week's Events

● Leap Challenge Reset ● Update Share (Comment Event)    ○ Notice: [X] ● Stella's UP&DOWN ● Golden Shark Token    ○ Buy a token during certain timeframes, exchange a certain amount of tokens for rewards.    ○ Obtaining 15 tokens can exchange for 300 topaz. ● Speed Gun - Craft/Refine ● One Shot Hit - Combine ● February Monthly Package - Purchase (Saturday - Monday)    ○ Heart Pop! ● Skill Transcend Buff Change - Rebate (Sunday - Wednesday)

[~☆~]

New Skill: Candy Smash

● Edition: Apply [Candy Smash] to a selected opponent within 12 blocks ahead, then move that opponent forward by 1 block.    ○ Candy Smash: If you land on an owned city, pay the opponent 50 times the toll. (Not a visible debuff.) A new skill costs at least 10K+ gems to obtain enough scrolls required to craft the edition grade of the new skill in Craft. This is assuming you DON'T get it through the gem combine before reaching the required amount of scrolls. This also includes making use of Card Craft to combine your duplicate grades into a higher grade, which counts towards providing you scrolls. Attempting to craft Asura grade requires on average 10-14+ magnifiers. Upon reaching 100% appraisal, your collector grade will turn into Asura/your collector will be replaced with Asura (i.e. you will no longer own the collector "map edition" of that skill).

[~☆~]

This Week's Events

● Leap Challenge Reset ● New Year's Resolution (Comment Event)    ○ Notice: [X] ● Glass Bridge ● Play Box Token ● Robot Vacuum - Craft/Refine ● Dangerous Gift - Combine ● January Monthly Limited Package - Purchase (Thursday - Saturday)

[~☆~]

New Skill: Purifying Snowfield

● Edition: Remove 1 random skill card that the opponent added to your deck, then apply [X * 200% Curse] for 2 turns and summons to your random city.    ○ X = each skill added to your deck (up to 3 times) A new skill costs at least 10K+ gems to obtain enough scrolls required to craft the edition grade of the new skill in Craft. This is assuming you DON'T get it through the gem combine before reaching the required amount of scrolls. This also includes making use of Card Craft to combine your duplicate grades into a higher grade, which counts towards providing you scrolls. Attempting to craft Asura grade requires on average 10-14+ magnifiers. Upon reaching 100% appraisal, your collector grade will turn into Asura/your collector will be replaced with Asura (i.e. you will no longer own the collector "map edition" of that skill).

[~☆~]

This Week's Events

● Leap Challenge Reset ● 2025 Game of Dice Awards - Skill (Comment Event) ○ Notice: [X] ● Challenge! Showdown Days (7-Day Mission) ○ Complete missions to earn rewards. Mission completion is cumulative (missions can be done ahead of time before mission unlocks). ○ Total required to complete: Play Matches x35, Win Matches x14, Enhance Skill x7, Enhance Goods x7, Spend 2.1M Gold, Spend 3.5K Gems, Spend 2.1K Topaz ○ Completing all missions rewards: Random Collector Goods x1 ● GP Draw ● Thorn Bank - Craft/Refine ● Wave of Choice - Combine ● Boost Package - Purchase (Saturday - Monday) ● Skill Transcend Buff Change - Rebate (Monday - Wednesday)

[~☆~]

New Skill: Ice Flower

● Edition: Receive 1 random opponent's city as donation, then install [Sprout] on 1 of your random city for 2 turns. Then apply [Ice Thorn] or [Thin Ice] effect depending on selected target. ○ Ice Thorn: When selecting yourself or an ally, grant that character a [Girl Crush - 500% Curse/-50% goods] buff for 2 turns, then summon a random opponent to a random city of the selected character. (Works like Death Scythe's buff.) ○ Thin Ice: When selecting an opponent, apply [Girl Crush - 700% Curse/-70% goods] debuff to that character for 2 turns, then summon to your random city. *Since I've yet to make a shorthand guide, reminder that I use Girl Crush as shorthand stand in for "X% Curse (extra toll) + -Y% Goods Effect Chance". A new skill costs at least 10K+ gems to obtain enough scrolls required to craft the edition grade of the new skill in Craft. This is assuming you DON'T get it through the gem combine before reaching the required amount of scrolls. This also includes making use of Card Craft to combine your duplicate grades into a higher grade, which counts towards providing you scrolls. Attempting to craft Asura grade requires on average 10-14+ magnifiers. Upon reaching 100% appraisal, your collector grade will turn into Asura/your collector will be replaced with Asura. (i.e. you will no longer own the collector "map edition" of that skill).