Recent wanderings

Autumn in Japan: Seasonal foods, traditions, and sayings

Autumn in Japan: Seasonal foods, traditions, and sayings

Japan is beautiful in all of its seasons but Autumn in Japan can be a particularly colorful time of the year. There are all sorts of seasonal foods, traditions, and sayings that celebrate Autumn. In Japanese, Autumn is called 秋(aki).  Climate of Autumn in Japan: In 

10 Unique Summer Traditions in Japan

10 Unique Summer Traditions in Japan

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 

What is the Japanese Bon Festival?

What is the Japanese Bon Festival?

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 School Events: Culture, Sports day, and more

Japanese School Events: Culture, Sports day, and more

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 

“This”, “That”, and “Which” in Japanese

“This”, “That”, and “Which” in Japanese

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 

11 Japanese Shinto Gods and Shrines to Visit!

11 Japanese Shinto Gods and Shrines to Visit!

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 

Wasei-eigo!: 25 Fake English words in Japanese

Wasei-eigo!: 25 Fake English words in Japanese

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 

Top 10 Ghibli Tourist Spots in Japan

Top 10 Ghibli Tourist Spots in Japan

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 

Body Parts in Japanese: Vocabulary and Phrases!

Body Parts in Japanese: Vocabulary and Phrases!

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 

Japanese Weapons: Katanas, Shuriken and more!

Japanese Weapons: Katanas, Shuriken and more!

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.