CultureDiaryFoodJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Nov 10, 2023Jan 02, 2024 culture, eating habits, Japan, meals, traditional cuisine Udon Prefecture Udon Prefecture うどん県 I am currently on a business trip in Kagawa. 私は今、出張で香川に来ています。 Kagawa is famous for udon (うどん – Read More
CultureEssayHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Nov 06, 2023Jan 01, 2024 ancient practice, expression, Japan, metaphorical meaning, miko, mizu wo mukeru, priestess, speak comfortably, spirits of the dead, water Mizu wo Mukeru (水を向ける – Providing an Opening) Mizu wo Mukeru 水を向ける The act of prompting someone to speak comfortably is sometimes expressed as mizu wo mukeru (水を向ける). Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbUncorrected Toru Oct 28, 2023Jan 02, 2024 archaic, discouraged, elegant, grammatical structure, irony, Japan, nuance, phrase, 何, 言わん Nani wo ka Iwan ya (何をか言わんや – Having Nothing to Say) Nani wo ka Iwan ya 何をか言わんや When you are discouraged about something and have nothing to say, you can use Read More
CultureEssayEuropean countriesIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Oct 20, 2023Jan 01, 2024 American, benefit, cat, fable, France, idiom, Japan, monkey, proverb, risk Kachū no Kuri wo Hirou (火中の栗を拾う – Taking a Risk for Someone): Part 2 Kachū no Kuri wo Hirou: Part 2 火中の栗を拾う Part 2 Based on the fable “The Monkey and the Cat (Le Read More
ClimateCultureDiaryEssayHistoryJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Sep 23, 2023Jan 01, 2024 ancestors, Autumnal Equinox, Buddhist altars, day and night, graves, holidays, Japan, national holiday, September 23rd, Shūbun no Hi Shūbun no Hi (秋分の日 – Autumnal Equinox Day) Shūbun no Hi 秋分の日 Today, September 23rd, 2023, is Shūbun no HI (秋分の日 – “Autumnal Equinox Day”) in Japan. 今日、2023年9月23日は「秋分の日」です。 Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected Toru Sep 13, 2023Jan 01, 2024 Derivatives, fandom, Hako oshi, Idol, Japan, oshi, Oshikatsu, Promote, support, Youth culture Oshi (推し – My Fave): Part 2 Oshi: Part 2 推し Part 2 The term oshi (推し – “my fave”) is widely used among young people in Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected Toru Sep 12, 2023Jan 01, 2024 anime, favorite, ichioshi, idol group, Japan, manga, member, oshi, oshimen, recommend Oshi (推し – My Fave): Part 1 Oshi 推し If you have a particular favorite member in an idol group or character in an anime, that is Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaUncorrected Toru Aug 17, 2023Jan 01, 2024 action, heavy, isse-no-de, isse-no-se, Japan, lifting, one two three, ready set go, se-no, synchronize Se-no (せーの – One, Two, Three) Se-no せーの In Japan, when several people are lifting something heavy or taking the same action together, they often say Read More
CultureDiaryEssayEtymologyJapanese traditionNewsSlangUncorrected Toru Aug 15, 2023Jan 01, 2024 Cabinet Office, hikikomori, Japan, population, seclusion, short-term, survey, The Legend of Zelda, video game, withdrawal Hikikomori (引きこもり – Social Withdrawal) Hikikomori 引きこもり People who withdraw into their homes or rooms and rarely go outside are called hikikomori (引きこもり) in Japanese. Read More