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Thursday, January 22, 2026
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  • Kakuritsuki (確率機 – Crane Game with Probability Control): Part 1
  • Tazan no Ishi (他山の石 – Drawing a Lesson)
  • Kōkai Saki ni Tatazu (後悔先に立たず – Repentance Comes too Late)
  • Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari (人生山あり谷あり – Life Has Its Ups and Downs)
  • Neko wa Kotatsu de Maruku Naru (猫はこたつで丸くなる – Cats Curl up under the Kotatsu)

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CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbSlangUncorrected
Toru Mar 01, 2018Jan 02, 2024 decline, divide, etymology, field, foolish, harvest, Joker, person, tawakemono, verb

Tawakemono (たわけ者 – Fool)

Tawakemono たわけ者 Unfortunately, there are many たわけ者 (tawakemono) in the world. 残念なことに、世の中には多くの「たわけ者」が存在します。 “Tawakemono” is a word that refers to a Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbSlangUncorrected
Toru Feb 28, 2018Jan 02, 2024 achievement, admire, datsubou, give up, hat, Japanese, literal meaning, take off, verb

Datsubou (脱帽 – Taking One’s Hat Off)

Datsubou 脱帽 There is a Japanese term: 脱帽 (datsubou). 日本語には、「脱帽」という表現があります。 脱 (datsu) means “to take off” and 帽 (bou) means Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Feb 27, 2018Jan 02, 2024 chapeau, hat, helmet, Japanese, kabuto, noun to verb, ojan, posharu, slang term, verb

Posharu (ポシャる – Falling Through)

Posharu ポシャる Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term “ojan,” which means that a plan or a thing goes Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected
Toru Feb 26, 2018Jan 02, 2024 Edo period, fire, fire bell, hansho, jan, Japanese, ojan, onomatopoeia, wooden houses

Ojan (おじゃん – Falling Through)

Ojan おじゃん When a plan or a thing goes up in smoke, we refers to it as おじゃん (ojan) or Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomUncorrected
Toru Feb 25, 2018Jan 02, 2024 eel, etymology, metaphor, nobori, phenomenon, price, rise, salmon, theory, unagi

Unagi Nobori (うなぎのぼり – Spiral Rise)

Unagi Nobori うなぎのぼり When something such as price or status rises rapidly, we express the phenomenon by using the metaphor, Read More
CultureEssayFoodIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected
Toru Feb 24, 2018Jan 02, 2024 etiquette, expression, itadaki, Japanese language, leave, meal, oitoma, politeness, tachi, visit

Itadaki Dachi (いただき立ち)

Yesterday, I introduced you to the word “oitoma,” which is used when you leave a house you’re visiting. いただき立ち Today Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiOnomatopoeiaUncorrected
Toru Feb 23, 2018Jan 02, 2024 euphemism, go home, itoma, Japanese, kaeru, oitoma, polite, prefix, service, visitors

Oitoma (おいとま – Leaving)

Oitoma おいとま Over the past two days, I introduced you to the Japanese terms that related to service to visitors. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Feb 22, 2018Jan 02, 2024 gift, Japanese, karacha, miyage, motsu, omotase, refreshments, tea, URL, visitor

Omotase (お持たせ)

Omotase お持たせ Yesterday, I introduced you to the word 空茶 (karacha), which means to serve green tea without refreshments. 昨日は、お茶菓子を添えずに出すお茶を意味する「空茶」という言葉を紹介しました。 Read More
CorrectedCultureEssayFoodJapanese tradition
Toru Feb 21, 2018Jul 09, 2023 0 Comments empty, green tea, refreshments, serve, tea, visit

Karacha (空茶 – Served Tea by Itself)

Karacha 空茶 When treating visitors in Japan, we often serve green tea with refreshments (Japanese confectionery). 日本では来客をもてなすとき、お茶にお茶菓子を添えて出します。 However, if the Read More
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