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Tuesday, April 28, 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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CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Feb 20, 2017Jan 02, 2024 aluminum, boiling, copper, huetsuki yakan, Kamakura period, kettle, stainless, steel, water, yakan

Yakan (Kettle)

Yakan やかん Today I will talk about a tool called “yakan.” 今日は「やかん」という道具を紹介します。 Yakan is a kettle-shaped tool that is used Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Feb 19, 2017Jan 02, 2024 bakuto gari, confusion, dosakusa, Edo period, idiom, Japanese, kusai, magirete, Sado Kinzan, vulgar belief

Dosakusa

Today I will talk about the Japanese word “dosakusa.” どさくさ “Dosakusa” means a situation that people are confused by sudden Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru Feb 18, 2017Jan 02, 2024 auspicious, azuki-an, big lucky, daifuku, Edo period, harabuto mochi, Japanese sweets, mochi, Muromachi period, uzura mochi

Daifuku

Today I will talk about the Japanese food “daifuku.” 大福 The literal meaning of 大福 (daifuku) is “big lucky”, and Read More
AnimalCultureEssayScienceUncorrected
Toru Feb 17, 2017Jan 02, 2024 burrow, camaraderie, coteries, grasslands, greeting behaviors, polygamy, prairie dogs, social structure, squirrel family

Prairie Dog

Today I will talk about prairie dogs that are belong to the squirrel family. プレーリードッグ Prairie dogs are inhabit the Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Feb 16, 2017Jan 02, 2024 dictionary, Heian Era, Japanese term, kahina dayushi, kattarui, lazy, sluggish, tired arms, tiring, translation

Kattarui

Today I will talk about the Japanese term “kattarui.” かったるい “Kattarui” means “to feel sluggish” or “to feel lazy.” 今日は「かったるい」という言葉を紹介します。 Read More
CultureEssayNewsScienceUncorrected
Toru Feb 15, 2017Jan 02, 2024 adverse effects, cold, infection, medicine, Nobel Prize, pharmacists, symptoms, virus

Cold

Unfortunately I have caught a cold. 風邪 I have a sore throat and a headache, and feel a chill. 風邪をひいてしまいました。 Read More
CultureEssayFoodJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Feb 14, 2017Jan 02, 2024 bouquets, chocolate, gift, giri choco, honmei choco, Japan, love, social etiquette, supermarkets, Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day in Japan

Today is Valentine’s Day. 日本のバレンタインデー On this day men in many countries present bouquets, cakes or chocolate to women. 今日はバレンタインデーです。 Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryUncorrected
Toru Feb 13, 2017Jan 02, 2024 bitter, chocolate, drink, etymology, medical, Nahuatl, native Mexicans, Spanish, sweet, water

The Etymology of Chocolate

Last week I bought a lot of chocolate. チョコレートの語源 However, since I didn’t know where the word chocolate came from, Read More
CultureEssayHistoryJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Feb 12, 2017Jan 02, 2024 commemorate, culture, Emperor Jimmu, February 11, founding, Japan, mythology, National Foundation Day, national holiday

National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi)

Last week I wrote diaries related to my overseas business trip. 建国記念の日 I will talk about Japanese words and culture 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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