Cranes ー Wishing for Peace
The crane has long been a symbol of good fortune and is a bird well-known in Japanese culture. Although most cranes are known to be migratory birds, the “tancho,” a …
Knowledge
Wonderful Traditional Cloth “Furoshiki”(風呂敷)
Have you heard of Furoshiki(風呂敷)? Have you ever used one? Furoshiki is a thin cloth which is shaped close to a square for wrapping, carrying or decorating something. Furoshiki is …
Things commonly in Hawaii unexpectedly originally from Japan
As you may know, Japanese products have gained worldwide recognition. What comes to mind when you hear wonderful things from Japan? Maybe you would say TOYOTA, SONY, Nintendo and possibly …
Phrases popping out of Japanese people’s mouths
This time, I’d like to Introduce 3 phrases that Japanese people use frequently. 1. “Sumimasen” I guess that many foreigners know this phrase because it’s famous. Sumimasen is really useful. …
The 8 Japanese Virtues From My Perspective
When I think of Japanese virtues, I always remember a book, Nanso Satomi Hakkenden(南総里見八犬伝), by Takizawa Bakin. I read it in elementary school, and through the story, I learned about …
Washi 和紙 (Japanese paper) Take a look, touch and enjoy it in your own way
As you may know, two-thirds of the land in Japan is composed of mountains and forests. A lot of areas are blessed with abundant timber and clear water. For that …
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 …
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 …