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Saturday, January 24, 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 traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Apr 29, 2017Jan 04, 2024 clown, comedy, doukeshi, entertains, French, Japan, makeup, performer, piero, pierrot

Piero (Pierrot)

Piero ピエロ Today I would like to talk about the word “piero.” 今日は「ピエロ」について話します。 “Piero” means a performer who puts on Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru Apr 28, 2017Jan 04, 2024 bull, equivalent, gokaku, gyu kaku, Japanese, kanji, Muromachi period, restaurant, word, yakiniku

Gokaku

Today I would like to talk about the Japanese common word “互角 (gokaku).” 互角 “互 (go)” means “each other,” “角 Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected
Toru Apr 27, 2017Jan 04, 2024 envy, Japanese, jealousy, rice cake, roasted, shitto suru, to feel jealous, wordplay, yakimochi, yaku

Yakimochi (Jealousy)

Today I would like to talk about the Japanese word “yakimochi.” やきもち “Yaki” means “roasted,” “mochi” means “rice cake,” so Read More
CultureEssayJapanese traditionNewsProverbScienceUncorrected
Toru Apr 26, 2017Jan 04, 2024 benefit, diseases, early, Harvard University, hayaoki, Oxford University, performance, proverb, risks, study

Risks of Getting Up Early

There is a proverb, “hayaoki wa sanmon no toku,” in Japan. 早起きのリスク “Hayaoki” means “getting up early,” “sanmon” means “three Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomProverbScienceUncorrected
Toru Apr 25, 2017Jan 04, 2024 carnivorous, co-existence, co-prosperity, Han Yu, herbivorous, idiom, jaku niku kyo shoku, natural world, predation, survival of the fittest

Jaku Niku Kyo Shoku (The Jungle Law)

Jaku Niku Kyo Shoku 弱肉強食 Today I will talk about the four-character idiom “jaku niku kyo shoku” (弱肉強食). 今日は「弱肉強食」という四字熟語を紹介します。 “Jaku” Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Apr 24, 2017Jan 04, 2024 dialect, fortune-telling, Japanese language, ketai, kettai, Meiji period, omen, Osaka dialect, Osaka prefecture, strange

Kettai (Queer-Beer)

Kettai けったい Today I would like to talk about the term in Osaka dialect “kettai.” 今日は大阪弁の「けったい」を紹介します。 “Kettai” means that something Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Apr 23, 2017Jan 04, 2024 Edo period, Japanese, Meiji period, nobilities, offended, omae, prefix, respect, use, word

Omae (You)

Omae お前 Today I will talk about the Japanese word “omae.” 今日は「お前」という言葉を紹介します。 “Omae” is a word that refers to a Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected
Toru Apr 22, 2017Jan 04, 2024 asameshi mae, before breakfast, breakfast, easy tasks, Edo period, Japanese term, meaning, real strengths, simple tasks

Asameshi Mae (Before Breakfast)

Today I’d like to talk about the Japanese term “asameshi mae.” 朝飯前 “Asameshi” of “asameshi mae” means “breakfast,” “mae” means Read More
BusinessCultureEssayEtymologyHistorySlangUncorrected
Toru Apr 21, 2017Jan 04, 2024 1977, desk, elderly, employees, Hokkaido Shimbun, Japanese, madogiwa zoku, management, ojisan, slang

Madogiwa Zoku (Deadwood)

Madogiwa Zoku 窓際族 Today I will talk about the Japanese slang term “madogiwa zoku.” 今日は「窓際族」という俗語を紹介します。 “Madogiwa” means “windows side.” “zoku” Read More
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Recent Posts

  • Kakuritsuki (確率機 – Crane Game with Probability Control): Part 1
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  • 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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