let's learn about Japanese Language and Culture
Summer is a time full of unique traditions in Japan. In western countries we might associate the summer with ice cream, beaches, and barbecues. In Japan, there are all sorts of traditions from food, festivals, and keeping cool during the hot summer months. If you …
The Japanese bon festival, also known as obon, is an annual three-day custom tied to Buddhist beliefs that honours ancestors. Although it is not an official holiday, many people take leave during this time. It’s meant to be a period of time to go back …
Japanese schools have school wide events that don’t exist in other countries! Instead of school dances and football games like in American schools, the highlights of Japanese schooling are things like the cultural festival, sports day, and overnight field trips. Here are some of the …
Knowing “This”, “That”, and “Which” in Japanese is really useful when you want to point things out or ask about a certain object. Some situations where you might need to use it are in a store or a restaurant. There are different words you’ll need …
The Shinto religion worships multiple different gods called kami and they each have their own myths that make up Japanese mythology. In fact, many people believe that the Japanese imperial household are descendants of these gods! Shinto gods tend to relate to the surrounding nature …
Did you know that some Japanese words sound like English but don’t really translate? These are called 和製英語わせいえいご (wasei eigo) and are distinct Japanese words. In fact, many Japanese people don’t realize that they are using wasei-eigo. This means that they will sometimes try to …
If you’re a Studio Ghibli fan, you won’t want to miss these 10 Ghibli tourist spots in Japan! Even if you don’t have plans to go to Japan anytime soon, it’s mind opening to look at the real locations that inspired these movies. Going to …
Knowing how to say body parts in Japanese can be super useful! It’s not the first thing Japanese learners will want to learn, but it is an essential set of vocabulary. Imagine that you’re in Japan for the first time, and you need to go …
You may have seen some interesting Japanese weapons in anime, historical movies, or video games. Weapons were important in the frequent wars and battles throughout Japan’s history. They showcased deep craftsmanship and innovation. What’s more, the skills needed to wield these weapons were extremely impressive. …
Knowing how to talk about your family in Japanese can open up your conversation skills! When talking with strangers and friends, family can be a great topic. The only problem is that talking about family can be difficult to grasp in Japanese! In this article, …