Pray, Snack, Sip: Old-Tokyo Shibamata Done Right
Have you ever heard of Tora-san? Tora-san (寅さん) is a main character in a movie that is one of the most popular in Japan. The movie depicts daily life in …
The Soundtrack of Japanese Summer (Whether You Like It or Not): Cicadas
♪ Min, meen, meen♪, what do you think about this sound ? These sounds represent Japanese summer. It’s called semi no nakigoe (蝉の鳴き声), which means the sounds of cicadas. Semi …
Why Do Japanese Children Wear Kimonos at Ages 3, 5, and 7?
1. What‘s 七五三（Shichi-Go-San)? This is one of Japan‘s traditions that has stood the test of time and is celebrated for three-year-old girls, five-year-old boys and seven-year-old girls’ healthy growth. According …
The Japanese Work Phrases That Break Your Brain —And What Do They Actually Mean?
When you’re a rookie in a Japanese workplace or the broader Japanese culture of professionalism, you might hear workplace phrases that your co-workers say often. After learning Japanese, you realize …
Experience Japan’s Seasonal Flower Viewing As a Local!
Each season has its own unique flowers. When it comes to viewing beautiful plants in Japan, you might instantly think about cherry blossoms, Hanami. Yes, I don’t argue with that, …
Kobe Port Tower
When people think of the Kansai region, Osaka and Kyoto often come to mind first. Osaka is known for its lively street culture, while Kyoto is famous for its traditional …
Unique Osaka-ben Part 4:From “Ee” (ええ/Ehh) to “Eenen” (ええねん/Ehh nen)
“Ee” — More Than Just “Good” A previous article on this website introduced the interesting idea that the single Japanese “Eh” (え) can express many different meanings depending on the …
How to Enjoy a One-Day Trip to Oze!
I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of hiking in the mountains. If my wife hadn’t taken me to Oze, I would never have imagined going there by …
Mini Getaway to Shizuoka In May!
For those who don’t know me, I really love IPA beers. These days, there are many micro breweries in Japan, even giant companies are selling IPA or craft beers at …
A Vending Machine That Chants Sutras — And Other Reasons to Love Kyoto
There are tons of posts and blogs about Kyoto. To be honest, I avoided going there because of over-tourism, but I got a chance to visit there this time. Looking …