Gift-Giving Culture in Japan
I’m writing this article between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and I have a question for you. Did you have a good time on Thanksgiving with your family and get …
Knowledge
What is Oshogatsu？ ― Japanese Happy New Year
Japanese decorations for new year Oshogatsu ― it’s a special occasion for celebrating a new year. First, let me tell you the original meaning of this New Year’s event and …
Junishi- TheTwelve Signs of the Japanese Zodiac-
Has anyone heard of 十二支 (Juni-shi)? Junishi is the twelve animal signs of the Japanese zodiac that are used for directions and the almanac, which have been commonly used in …
Japanese Slang
You won’t typically hear Japanese slang in formal places. However, you may use slang if you are a colleague or a good trading partner, and a lot of slang flies …
What is Gacha Gacha?
Why don’t you buy Gacha Gacha as a Japanese souvenir for your family and friends? I think it’s an iconic item of Japanese culture because we’re good at turning something …
Millions of “Thank yous!”
Have you ever thought that Japanese people find it hard to express their feelings? Actually, many of us rarely gesture, hug, kiss and speak out loud our feelings in public. …
The Celebration of The Life’s Milestones
Happy Birthday to you♪ Happy Birthday to you♪ Your own birthday is a very important day for everyone. I always thank my parents for giving birth to me. Birthdays have the most …
Too Many in Japan? Onomatopoeia
Japanese people use onomatopoeia very often in conversations. There are about 3,000 of these words in the United States and about 12,000 in Japan. People’s voices, animals, and other sounds …
Ueno Onshi Park – Tips & History for Authentic Visitors
Ueno Park is famous as one of the cherry-blossom viewing spots or cultural venues which has several amusement facilities such as museums, a zoo, and a concert hall. Beyond that, …
The complex first person in Japanese
If you talk about yourself in English, you only need to use one letter: “I.” However, there are various first person pronouns in Japanese. When translating into a foreign language, …