The Yoyogi Park -What do you want to do here?-
One thing I noticed since I started running is how beautiful the winter sky is. I used to hate the cold and gloomy winter weather, but running changed my perspective. …
Welcome to Enoshima island.（江ノ島）Each one may be small, but there are many little points of beauty there. Please enjoy!
Enoshima is a small island connected to the mainland by a long bridge.There are three shrines and a lighthouse at the top of the hill. In the past, people could …
Furikake — The Tiny Topping That Transforms Rice Amazingly!
Furikake (ふりかけ). It’s a magic powder to change your ordinary rice into amazing cuisine. When I was a kid, one of my dreams was filling up my stomach with furikake …
Iroha Poem (いろはうた）
If you are learning Japanese, you are probably familiar with the hiragana order that begins with “a i u e o.” However, have you ever heard of another order that …
Chow Chow? Chau Chau! Unique Osaka-ben (Part 3)
Have you ever heard someone from Osaka say “chau chau”? “Chau chau”??? It’s not a word you’ll find in Japanese textbooks. Translated into standard Japanese, “chau” corresponds to “chigau,” meaning …
Karaage: Japan’s Obsession with Perfect Fried Chicken
Well, most Japanese love 唐揚 (karaage) so much, I’d say. Nowadays, you can get them everywhere, like restaurants, bento shops, izakaya, Convini (i.e., convenience stores), and grocery stores. At the …
What Messaging App Do You Use?
TALK Talk is a main feature of LINE. You can send text messages to someone, like Messenger.There are two types of talk. One is a one on one chat, and …
Hatsumode: Japan’s Magical New Year Shrine Visit Tradition
Every New Year comes, and when you ring in the New Year in Japan, hatsumode (初詣) is a must-do. It might be a good idea to wait in a long …
The Art of Japanese Knives
What kind of kitchen knife do you usually use? Lately, I often see the knife shops in the tool district crowded with foreign tourists. Why have Japanese knives recently begun …
Kimono in Modern Japan
Occasions How do you feel when you see people wearing kimonos? As a kimono wearer, I always pay attention to the people who are wearing them. When I help someone …