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Monday, January 26, 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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ChinaCultureEssayEtymologyHistoryJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru Nov 09, 2016Jan 06, 2024 ancient, blood, China, derivation, devotion, festival, hieroglyphic, kanji, plate, symbolize

皿” (Plate) and “血” (Blood)

Today, I will talk about the derivations of the similar kanji “皿” (which means “plate”) and “血” (which means “blood”). Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 08, 2016Jan 06, 2024 aim, archery, conversation, correct, guess correctly, hoshimato, Japanese archery, Japanese word, vital point, zuboshi

Zuboshi

Today, I will talk about the Japanese word “zuboshi”. 図星 Originally, “zuboshi” is the term of Japanese archery, and it Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected
Toru Nov 07, 2016Jan 06, 2024 burn wounds, fail, fermented, idiom, Japan, lose face, miso, paste, soybean, treatment

Miso wo Tsukeru (Put Miso)

Today, I will talk about the Japanese idiom “miso wo tsukeru.” 味噌をつける “Miso” is fermented soybean paste, and “miso wo Read More
AnimalCultureEssayJapanese traditionProverbScienceUncorrected
Toru Nov 06, 2016Jan 06, 2024 beneficial insects, cockroaches, flies, house spiders, Japan, morning, night, scientific basis, spiders, superstition

Morning Spiders and Night Spiders

In Japan, there is a superstition that is related to spiders like following: 朝蜘蛛と夜蜘蛛 “Let morning spiders get away even Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected
Toru Nov 05, 2016Jan 06, 2024 after a storm, conflict, English expressions, fair weather, ground, human relationships, Japanese proverb, rainfall, relationships, solidifies

Ame Futte Ji Katamaru

Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb “ame futte ji katamaru.” 雨降って地固まる The literal meaning of this proverb is Read More
CultureEssayFoodIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected
Toru Nov 04, 2016Jan 06, 2024 arm wrestling, caution, effect, entrance, Japanese, meaningless, nails, noren, proverb, rice-bran

Nuka ni Kugi (Nail Rice-bran Paste)

Nuka ni Kugi 糠に釘 Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb “nuka ni kugi.” 今日は、「糠に釘」ということわざを紹介します。 “Nuka” means “rice-bran paste,” Read More
ClimateCultureEssayHistoryJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Nov 03, 2016Jan 06, 2024 clear skies, Culture Day, Emperor, Imperial Palace, Japan, Kendo Championships, Maritime Self-Defense Force, national holiday, Nippon Budokan, Order of Culture

Culture Day

Today (November 3) is Culture Day, which is a national holiday in Japan. 文化の日 Culture day was established in 1948, Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyGamingIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 02, 2016Jan 06, 2024 etymology, gamblers, horse racing, iron plate, Japanese, joke, reliable, Showa era, slang, teppan

Teppan (Iron Plate)

Teppan 鉄板 Today, I will talk about the Japanese slang “teppan”. 今日は、日本のスラング「鉄板」を紹介します。 “Teppan” usually means “a iron plate” literally, but Read More
AnimalCultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbSlangUncorrected
Toru Nov 01, 2016Jan 06, 2024 culture, deceive, fox sleep, Japanese, phrase, pretend, raccoon dog, sham sleep, sleep, tanuki neiri

Tanuki Neiri (Sham Sleep)

Tanuki Neiri 狸寝入り Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase “tanuki neiri.” 今日は日本の言葉「狸寝入り」を紹介します。 “Tanuki” means raccoon dogs, “neiri” means Read More
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Recent Posts

  • 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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