Visiting Nagasaki
Nagasaki (長崎) is located in the southwest of Japan. It is an important port city and the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture. Its rich history, culture, and attractive locations around the …
Author: Mami Yamamoto
Japanese Writing System
Learning a foreign language is a challenge for anyone. Japanese, in particular, has its own unique writing system, and the associated pronunciation and grammar rules can be a headache for …
Ōyamazaki Villa Museum of Art (大山崎山荘美術館)
Aren’t you intrigued by a Western-style house on the lower slope of Tenno-zan (天王山) (Tenno Mountain), blending in with nature in the south of Kyoto? This house used to be …
Household Chores Unique to Japan
Do you like housework? Housework is an essential part of our lives, but the way we do it varies from country to country. In this article, I would like to …
The Unique Curriculum at School in Japan
In Japan, school starts in April. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 attend elementary school. During these six years, children learn and develop a lot, both physically and …
The Colors of Takatsuki – Music and Carp Streamers
Takatsuki is a city located just at the halfway point between Osaka and Kyoto. Conveniently, both JR and Hankyu express trains stop at it. Today, I’d like to introduce two …
Auspicious Plants ー Pine, Bamboo, and Japanese Plum
Are you familiar with these three Japanese plants 松 (matsu), 竹 (take), and 梅 (ume)? These are pine, bamboo, and Japanese plum respectively. Japanese people often refer to them altogether …
The Yodo River
The Yodo River (淀川) originates in Lake Biwa (琵琶湖), the largest lake in Japan, and is called the Seta River (瀬田川) in its upper reaches and the Uji River (宇治川) …
Japanese Lifestyle ― Sitting on the Floor
The Japanese lifestyle of taking off one’s shoes and sitting on the floor cannot be described without mentioning tatami. The widespread use of tatami plays an important role in the …
Exploring Hirakata City Station
Hirakata City is located in the northeastern part of Osaka Prefecture, about halfway between Osaka City and Kyoto City on the Keihan Railway. Hirakata is famous for its amusement park, …