May in Japan is packed with a number of festivals – this is in part due to the Golden Week holiday period that happens every year for several days in early May. Then, the rest of the month is filled with good weather, sunshine, flowers, and lots of food and festivities! Here are 10 fun things to do in Japan … Read More
感謝の言葉 Kansha no kotoba: Appreciation words in Japanese
Have you heard of “Power of appreciation or gratitude”? To receive help from Japanese, showing gratitude in advance works! Let’s learn variety of useful Japanese thank you words! This is YouTube Live lesson on 1 June 2020 – YT Japanese Live Lessons on every Mon & Wed 9am JST. Please turn in if you like 🙂 Here are the words … Read More
The Best Day Trips From Tokyo
Are you coming to Japan and staying in Tokyo? Thanks to Japan’s convenient public transportation, you can easily make a number of great side trips to nearby rural areas no matter where you stay in Tokyo. Get out of the city for a bit and get lost in the beauty of rural Japan – just for a day or two. … Read More
Kawaii: Japan’s Obsession With All Things Cute
Kawaii (かわいい) is one of the most commonly used words in the Japanese language. Translated as “cute” in English, it can be used to describe all things cute – people, babies, animals, clothing, decorations, stationary – you name it. When the kawaii trend originated, it was only popular with pre-teen girls. So why is it that today in Japan, it’s … Read More
Stereotypes About Japan That ARE True!
When you think about “Japan”, what stereotypes come to mind? There are loads of myths surrounding Japan – about the people, the culture, the trains, and even the food! Many of them are far from accurate, but several common stereotypes are actually spot-on! Read on to find out which stereotypes about Japan are true, and the facts that back them … Read More
Top 10 Things to Do in Japan in November 2019
November in Japan is when the leaves reach their peak autumn beauty, and the first cold winds remind you that winter is not far away! November is full with a variety of autumn parades, an international carnival in Okinawa, and even a famous World Character Summit in Saitama! Here are the top 10 things to do in Japan in November … Read More
City Spotlight: Nara, Japan
Nara (奈良) is a city with a significant historical importance to Japan, and continues to serve as one of the most beloved tourist spots today. We take a look at how to get there, what to do, and even what it eat in this city spotlight on Nara City!
A Game of Thrones: Japan’s Emperor System
Today there are more than 190 monarchs worldwide, but only Japan has an Emperor descended from an “uninterrupted bloodline” that dates back over 2,000 years. However, the elusive lives of the symbolic head of state and his family were mostly unknown to the public until 2003. We take a peak behind the curtain and see what it takes to sit … Read More
Why Japanese People Wear Masks
In Western countries, if you saw someone walking around wearing a surgical mask, you might be surprised and assume they have some sort of illness or just came from a hospital! But in Japan, and many other countries in Asia, wearing a surgical mask as you go about your daily life is completely normal. Here’s a look into why Japanese … Read More
Amezaiku: Japan’s Incredible Animal-Shaped Candy Art
Amezaiku (飴細工) is traditional Japanese candy art. Making the incredibly detailed candies isn’t easy, as the material must be quickly molded by hand when it is still extremely hot! The best amezaiku artists can create unbelievably realistic-looking animal shapes, and some artisans also double as street performers who perform magic tricks and tell stories along with their candy craft entertainment. … Read More