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Friday, January 23, 2026
Latest:
  • 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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CultureEssayEtymologyEuropean countriesJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru Dec 01, 2017Jan 03, 2024 civil clothes, etymology, internet, Japan, London, Savile Row, sebiro, suit, tailors, word origins

Sebiro (背広 – Suit)

Sebiro 背広 “Suit” is often called just “sūtsu” (スーツ) in Japan, but it sometimes called “sebiro” (背広). 折り襟の紳士服のことを、「背広」と言うことがあります。 The “se” Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomKanjiSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 30, 2017Jan 03, 2024 cowardly, etymology, evolution, Japanese, language, makeshift, meaning, misuse, temporizing, word

Kosoku (姑息 – Temporizing/Cowardly)

Kosoku 姑息 Today I’d like to introduce the Japanese word “kosoku” (姑息), but you need to pay attention when using Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 29, 2017Jan 03, 2024 big, bold, Buddhist, exaggerate, grandiose, inordinate, Japanese, meaning, oogesa, term

Oogesa (大げさ – Exaggerated)

Oogesa 大げさ If you make a grandiose claim or exaggerate something, you may be said “oogesa” (大げさ) in Japanese. 物事を実際よりも誇張して見せることを、「大げさ」と言います。 Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 28, 2017Jan 03, 2024 chara, easy, etymology, expression, hecchara, hei, heiki, Japanese, slang, without hesitation

Hecchara (へっちゃら – I Don’t Mind)

Hecchara へっちゃら If you want to express that it’s easy to do something or you don’t mind something, you can Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 27, 2017Jan 03, 2024 etymology, expression, fart, he demonai, he no kappa, idiom, inferior to, Japanese term, literal meaning, slang

He Demonai (屁でもない – Nothing)

He Demonai 屁でもない If you want to express “it’s not a problem at all” or “it’s so easy,” you can Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected
Toru Nov 26, 2017Jan 03, 2024 culture, ear, flood, Japanese, nemimi ni mizu, proverb, sleep, surprised, unexpected, water

Nemimi ni Mizu (寝耳に水 – Bombshell)

If you encounter an unexpected event suddenly, you will be very surprised. 寝耳に水 The Japanese proverb “nemimi ni mizu” (寝耳に水) Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 25, 2017Jan 03, 2024 breath, choke, etymology, iki ga tsumaru, Japanese, nervous, stress, 息, 息が詰まる, 詰まる

Iki ga Tsumaru (息が詰まる – Choking)

Iki ga Tsumaru 息が詰まる Since today was a very important day for me that might determine my life, I was Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyGamingIdiomOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 24, 2017Jan 03, 2024 attract, emotion, etymology, Japanese, love, melo melo, onomatopoeia, phrase, Pokémon, term

Melo Melo (めろめろ – Madly in Love)

Melo Melo めろめろ There is a Japanese term: “melo melo” (めろめろ/メロメロ). 日本語には「めろめろ」という言葉があります。 Can you guess what this term means? どんな意味か想像できますか? Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodIdiomJapanese traditionProverbSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 23, 2017Jan 03, 2024 Japanese idiom, meaning, prevent, spit, tsuba wo tsukeru

Tsuba wo Tsukeru (唾をつける)

There is a Japanese idiom, “tsuba wo tsukeru” (唾をつける). 唾をつける The “tsuba” (唾) means “spit” and the “tsukeru” (つける) means Read More
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