Do you know any Japanese folktales? You might heard some of the famous ones like Momotaro and Kintaro. I have started a new Japanese lesson section, Learn Japanese with short stories. I’m planning to make it a series, so please keep in touch with us! Today’s short story is one of Japanese folktales, Kasa Jizō. This is another famous folktale … Read More
Secrets of a Japanese Ninja Warrior
If there was one group of warriors that produced more myth and exaggeration and shrouded in so much mystery, it would be the ninja. The word ninja（忍者, or its alternative name shinobi, appears throughout historical accounts in the context of secret intelligence gathering or stealthy assassinations carried out by martial-arts experts.
15 Hilariously Literal Japanese Words
There are a surprising number of Japanese words that are incredibly literal. The Japanese word “tebukuro” (手袋) is made up of the characters “Te” (Hand) and “Bukuro” (bag) = “hand bag”. It’s the Japanese word for “glove”! That makes sense, considering gloves technically are bags for your hands… Here are 15 other hilariously literal Japanese words that are used quite … Read More
Osorezan (恐山): Japan’s “Fear Mountain”
Japan’s Mount Osorezan (恐山) in Aomori Prefecture is ranked along with Koyasan and Hieizan as one of the three most sacred places in the entire country. Today, it known as the site of Bodai-ji Temple, where female mediums called itako are said to be able to communicate with the deceased. Read on to learn all about Japan’s fascinating “fear mountain”.
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!
Cats and Japanese Love History
In Japan, there are many items with cat motifs, such as Hello Kitty and Maneki Neko. There are also many cat goods, and it seems that Japanese people are full of cat lovers. In this blog, I would like to introduce the history of cats and humans, cat cafes, cat temples, and a cat temple museum that I recently visited. … Read More
The Secret World of the Maiko
Most people do not really know Geisha beyond their elaborate kimonos. Many can recognize one from a mile away, but apart from the white makeup and the intricate hairstyle, there is very little that is known about them. We take a closer look at the intriguing world of the Geisha and the Geisha-in-Training, the Maiko.
From Tradition to Today: Japanese School Uniforms
When you were a student growing up, did your school have uniforms? Most schools in Japan do! Japanese school uniforms, called seifuku (制服), were introduced to Japanese private and public schools in the late 19th century. The uniform traditionally consists of a military-styled uniform for boys and a sailor outfit for girls, but Western-styled Catholic-school uniforms are also very common. In … Read More
All About Japanese MONEY
On October 18, 2022, the Tokyo foreign exchange market was trading at around 149 yen to the dollar as the yen sold off on the view that the U.S. will continue to raise interest rates significantly. The yen also temporarily fell against the euro to the mid-146 yen per euro, the weakest level in about 7 years and 10 months. … Read More
Japan’s Top 10 Fire Festivals
Festivals (matsuri , 祭り in Japanese) are an integral part of Japanese culture. Every year in Japan, there are thousands of festivals held all across the country, and they come in many different varieties. Fire festivals in particular are incredibly beautiful, powerful, and lively, and are definitely worth checking out if you visit Japan! Here is a list of the 10 top … Read More