In Japan, turning 20 years old marks the official age of adulthood, and there is even a national holiday celebrating this big lifetime milestone. Coming of Age Day (成人の日 Seijin no Hi) is held every year on the second Monday of January in Japan. The holiday congratulates those who have recently reached or will soon reach the lawful age of maturity in … Read More
Purikura: Japan’s Massively Popular Photo Booths
Purikura photo booths can be found all over Japan, and they are immensely popular with both Japanese teenage girls and even with foreign tourists! Where did these super-cute photo booths come from? How do you use them? Here is your ultimate guide to Japan’s Purikura photo booths!
10 English Words That Don’t Exist in Japanese
English is one of the most expansive languages in the world, and compared to Japanese, English consists of quite long, grammar-heavy sentences. Japanese speakers tend to use short, simple sentences and often rely more on context than spoken words to communicate. In addition, Western English-speaking countries and Japan have many cultural differences, and those differences are reflected in the language … Read More
Top 10 Things to Do in Japan in December 2018
December is a great time to visit Japan because the variety of magical winter events is unlike anything you can find the rest of the year! The nights light up with winter illuminations all across the country, and there are also a number of Christmas celebrations and markets to enjoy as well. And finally, at the end of the month, … Read More
The 10 Most Popular Festivals in Japan
Omatsuri (festivals) are an important part of Japanese culture. In fact, it is said that there are so many festivals held in Japan, that at any given moment, there is a festival happening somewhere in Japan! Some festivals are calm and respectful, while others are lively events attended by millions of people! Here is a list of the 10 most … Read More
10 Famous Japanese Proverbs
It’s quite likely that you have heard the phrase, “fall down 7 times, get up 8”. But did you know that it originated as a Japanese saying? Nana korobi yaoki (七転び八起き), which translates to “7 falls, 8 rises” is a very well-known kotowaza (ことわざ), or proverb. Here is our list of 10 more famous Japanese proverbs.
Osaka To Host 2025 World Expo!
We’ve got great news this morning! Osaka, Japan was selected to host the World Expo 2025, beating Ekaterinburg, Russia and Baku, Azerbaijan for the right to organize the exhibition at which countries showcase their achievements.
The 10 Most Unique Matsuri in Japan
Japan’s matsuri (祭り) festivals are an incredibly important part of traditional Japanese culture. Matsuri are typically dedicated to Shinto Shrines and their divine deities, and because there are over 8,000 different recognized deities, matsuri come in all shapes and sizes! Some matsuri are very quiet, intimate affairs, while other matsuri are notoriously lively and high-energy. Here is our list of some … Read More
The Most Popular Japanese GESTURES!
Have you ever been to Japan? You may have noticed that several of the common gestures used by Japanese people are actually quite different from the ones used in your home country. Here is a picture guide of the most commonly used gestures in Japan, along with their meanings!
Japan Top 10: Best Places to See Autumn Leaves
Autumn is a truly magical time to be in Japan. From late September through mid December, the fall leaves in Japan reach their peak colors, which is called kōyō (紅葉) in Japanese. People all over the country love to visit places where the kōyō is especially beautiful. Here’s our list of the top 10 places to see the beautiful autumn leaves in Japan.