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 …
Author: Mami Yamamoto
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, …
Kyushoku ー School Lunch in Japan
School lunches are common around the world, but Japan’s school lunches are without question one-of-a-kind. Not only is the food tasty, but all the systems involved are incredibly well-organized. Let’s …
Masking up in Japan
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has had a significant impact on our daily lives. Some of the most notable changes include social distancing, remote work, mask-wearing, travel restrictions, and …
The difference in perception as expressed in Japanese
When you ask Japanese people, “How many fingers do you have?” most people will answer 10 or, after some thought, proudly 20. This is surprising for English-speaking people, isn’t it? …