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Monday, April 27, 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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CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru May 30, 2017Jan 03, 2024 cry, expressions, Heian period, Japan, makura wo nurasu, pillow, sode wo nurasu, sode wo siboru, tears, word association

Sode wo Nurasu

In Japan, there have been a lot of expressions that use word association since ancient times. 袖を濡らす For example, in Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru May 29, 2017Jan 03, 2024 adjective, anime, Buddhism, common sense, cruel, dramas, enlightenment, inhumanity, Japanese, negative prefix

Hidoi (Auful/Terrible)

During watching Japanese dramas or anime, you may hear the dialogue “hidoi (ひどい).” ひどい “Hidoi” is an adjective that refers Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru May 28, 2017Jan 03, 2024 educated guess, eye, goal, Japan, literal meaning, mark, meboshi wo tsukeru, put a mark, star, tsukeru

Meboshi wo Tsukeru (目星をつける)

Meboshi wo Tsukeru 目星をつける It is important to make an educated guess or establish a goal when you conduct/investigate something. Read More
CultureEssayGamingIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru May 27, 2017Jan 03, 2024 apology, date, etymology, friends, gotaku, hairstyle, idiom, naraberu, online game, stress

Gotaku wo Naraberu (Give a Song and Dance )

Gotaku wo Naraberu 御託を並べる Woman: “Why were you late for our date today?” 女性「今日のデート、なんで遅刻したの?」 Man: “Yesterday, I played a game Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru May 26, 2017Jan 03, 2024 communication, cool, dehanai, euphemism, expression, intention, Japanese, negative, positive, yabusaka

Yabusaka dehanai

Japanese people tend to avoid direct expressions, and use euphemism/ambiguous ones in daily communication. やぶさかではない You may think that it’s Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected
Toru May 25, 2017Jan 04, 2024 Buddhist, calculating, difficult, Japan, sechigarai, secular wisdom, shrewd, world, worldly talent, yononaka

Sechigarai

Recently in Japan, you can hear the keyword “sechigarai (世知辛い)” frequently. 世知辛い This term means that it’s difficult to live Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaProverbUncorrected
Toru May 24, 2017Jan 04, 2024 agreement, argument, crane, influence, opinion, silence, sparrow, statement, suzume no senkoe, tsuru no hitokoe

Tsuru no Hitokoe

When discussing with a lot of people, it’s difficult to reach agreement. 鶴の一声 In such a case, a person of Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru May 23, 2017Jan 04, 2024 attitude, attractive, deep inside, elegant, fascination, Japan, modest, okuyukashii, sensitive, woman

Okuyukashii

What is the element required for an attractive woman in your country? 奥ゆかしい In Japan, we tend to regard “okuyukashii Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected
Toru May 22, 2017Jan 04, 2024 change, dictionary, Japanese, meaning, misunderstanding, niyaniya, onomatopoeia, poll, smile, verb

Niyakeru

“Niyakeru (にやける)” is a Japanese verb that is commonly used. にやける However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, Read More
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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)
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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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