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 …
Knowledge
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 …
Nengajo: Japan’s Beautiful New Year’s Card Tradition
Do you know about “Nengajo (年賀状)”? It’s New Year’s greeting cards in Japan. It is safe to say that it’s one of the biggest headaches at the end of the …
Beyond the Surface: Honne and Tatemae in Japanese Communication
It is said that there is honne(本音) and tatemae(建前) in Japan, and it can confuse foreigners in conversation. One day, I was wondering if it was only in Japanese culture? …
Japanese Proverbs and Expressions
Imagine attending a class reunion and spotting someone you recognize, but you just can’t recall his name. Who is he? It’s on the tip of my tongue! This expression is …
From Kaomoji to Emoji: Japan’s Emotional Text Culture
These days, emojis are used all over the world as if they’ve always been around.But did you know that they actually originated in Japan?And before emojis were born, Japan had …
What’s Japanese Gen Z Slang? — Clear, Simple Guides to Their Meanings and How to Use Them!!
You’ve probably heard the term “Gen Z” at least once.The idea of “Gen Z” actually comes from “Generation X.” That name became popular thanks to Douglas Coupland’s book “Generation X” …
Yoshuku（予祝）～ celebrate something before it even happens ～
☆ What is Yoshuku (予祝)? What if I told you there’s a tradition where people celebrate something before it even happens?In Japan, there’s a beautiful custom called Yoshuku (予祝) — …
Why Is Japan So Clean? I’ll Tell You The Secret.
Many people say, “Japan is so clean, you can’t find any trash on the road.” Do you want to know the secret? Of course, it’s important for the country’s garbage …
Personal Pronouns and Social Roles in Japanese
Learning a foreign language is always a challenge. However, in the process, we sometimes come to realize just how complex our native language can be. In this blog, I’d like …