Japanese Column (Beginner) How to Use Kore, Sore, and Are
A quick guide to Japan’s tricky “this–that–that over there.” If you’re starting to learn Japanese, one of the first thin...
Japanese Column (Beginner) 
Culture & Tradition Why Japanese People Say “Otsukaresama” So Often
Have you ever heard Japanese people say “Otsukaresama desu” (おつかれさまです)? It’s one of the most common phrases in Japan—use...
Music & Entertainment What Is City Pop? Japan’s Timeless Soundtrack
In recent years, the world has rediscovered a musical gem from Japan — City Pop. When Mariya Takeuchi’s Plastic Love wen...
Study & Motivation Why You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Learn Japanese
Do you ever feel like your Japanese isn’t good enough to speak yet? Maybe you think, “I’ll start speaking once my gramma...
Study & Motivation How I Made Time to Study
Do you ever feel like you just don’t have time to study? Between work, family, and everyday responsibilities, it can fee...
Culture & Tradition What does “san” mean in Japanese?
「さん」って、どういう意味いみ？ ていねいな言葉ことば 日本語にほんごでは、人ひとの名前なまえのあとに「さん」をつけます。In Japanese, we add “san” after a person’s name. たとえば、「たなかさ...
Culture & Tradition Kotatsu: Japan’s Cozy Winter Secret
こたつ：日本にほんの冬ふゆの心地ここちよい秘密ひみつ 日本にほんでは、こたつは冬ふゆのあいだとても人気にんきがあります。A kotatsu is very popular in Japan during the winter. テーブルの下...
Food & Cuisine Apples in Japan
日本にほんのりんご 甘あまくておいしいりんごの話はなし 日本にほんでは、りんごはとても人気にんきのある果物くだものです。世界せかいでも「Fuji Apple（ふじりんご）」は有名ゆうめいですね。In Japan, apples are a...
Japanese Column (Advanced) Shattering Japan’s Glass Ceiling
日本のガラスの天井てんじょうを打うち破やぶって 初の女性総理じょせいそうり 日本で初めて、女性が総理大臣そうりだいじんになりました。彼女の名前は高市早苗たかいち さなえさんです。For the first time in Japan’s h...
Music & Entertainment Is Memorizing Hiragana Difficult?
Hiragana consists of 46 characters. Compared to the 26 letters of the English alphabet, that does seem like quite a lot....