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Sunday, January 25, 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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BusinessCultureDiaryEducationNewsScienceUncorrected
Toru Jan 20, 2017Jan 02, 2024 deadline, exhausted, graduation, night, preparation, presentation, research, students, thesis, university

Deadline for Graduation Thesis

At the university where I work, today was a deadline for graduation thesis. 卒業論文の締切 Students have been writing their theses Read More
CultureEssayFoodJapanese traditionProverbScienceUncorrected
Toru Jan 19, 2017Jan 02, 2024 admonish, cow, digestive process, eating, health, Japan, lying down, manner, medical study, superstition

You will become a cow if you lie down soon after eating.

There is a famous superstition in Japan as the following: 食べた後すぐ寝ると牛になる “You will become a cow if you lie down Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Jan 18, 2017Jan 02, 2024 adjective, Ai Kyogen, curse, doll, dull, Japanese, noroi, noroma, Noromatsu Kanbe, puppeteer

Noroma

Today I will talk about the Japanese word “noroma”. のろま “Noroma” means a dull person or something dull. 今日は「のろま」という日本語を紹介します。 It Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Jan 17, 2017Jan 02, 2024 burnt, clothes, dubious, expression, gunpowder, Japanese term, kinakusai, meaning, smell, war

Kinakusai

Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term “kinakusai”. きな臭い “Kinakusai” means that something or someone is dubious Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected
Toru Jan 16, 2017Jan 02, 2024 abacus, business, calculation, division, expression, Japanese, meaning, nicchimo sacchimo ikanai, phrase, remainder

Nicchimo Sacchimo Ikanai

Today I will talk about the phrase “nicchimo sacchimo ikanai”. にっちもさっちもいかない “Nicchimo sacchimo ikanai” means that something/someone is completely pinned Read More
ClimateCultureDiaryEssayNewsScienceUncorrected
Toru Jan 15, 2017Jan 02, 2024 Computer-scored, examination, Japan, Listening exam, National Center Test, Private universities, Public universities, snow, University Admissions, winter

National Center Test for University Admissions

The National Center Test for University Admissions has been held since yesterday in Japan. 大学入試センター試験 This test is something like Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Jan 14, 2017Jan 02, 2024 Buddhism, give up, Japanese term, Lang-8, mikka bozu, priest, quit, secular life, three days, training

Mikka Bozu

Today I will talk about the Japanese term “mikka bozu”. 三日坊主 The literal meaning is “three days guy”, and it Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Jan 13, 2017Jan 02, 2024 attached tag, crime, Edo period, family register, fuda tsuki, meaning, notorious, origami tsuki, osumi tsuki, suspicious

Fuda Tsuki (Notorious)

Fuda Tsuki 札付き I talked about “osumi tsuki” yesterday, and “origami tsuki” the day before yesterday. 昨日は「お墨付き」、一昨日は「折り紙つき」という言葉を紹介しました。 Both of these Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Jan 12, 2017Jan 02, 2024 authority, document, Edo period, guarantee, ink, Japanese term, origami tsuki, osumi tsuki, sumi, written seal

Osumi Tsuki (Certified)

Yesterday I talked about the Japanese term “origami tsuki”. お墨付き Today I will talk about the Japanese term “osumi tsuki”, 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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