Language

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 …

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 …

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? …

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 …

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 …

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” …

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 …

Have you ever tried checking out a Japanese book and been attracted by kanji? One day, I spotted a kanji calligraphy hanging on the wall in an American couple’s living …

“I hate this train line! We’re packed like sardines!!” My British coworker grumbled in the jam-packed train. Unfortunately, it happens a lot for us to become like sardines when we …