Japanese culture – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Jan 20, 2024Jan 23, 2024 greeting card, Japanese culture, kanchū mimai, mochū hagaki, mourning, nengajō, New Year, postcard, ritual

Mo ni Fukusu (喪に服す – Mourning): Part 2

Mo ni Fukusu: Part 2 喪に服す Part 2 During the period of mo ni fukusu (喪に服す – “mourning”), there are Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 19, 2024Jan 23, 2024 death, fukumo, fukumochū, Japanese culture, mo ni fukusu, mochū, mourning, period, relative, spend time

Mo ni Fukusu (喪に服す – Mourning): Part 1

Mo ni Fukusu: Part 1 喪に服す Part 1 In Japanese culture, after the death of a loved one, people refrain Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Language Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jan 13, 2024Jan 14, 2024 cleansing ones life, English equivalent, Japanese culture, Japanese proverb, language understanding, metaphor, ogre, oni no inu ma ni sentaku, scary person, washing

Oni no Inu Ma ni Sentaku (鬼の居ぬ間に洗濯 – When the Cat Is Away, the Mice Will Play)

Oni no Inu Ma ni Sentaku 鬼の居ぬ間に洗濯 While there are no scary or annoying people around, you can forget about Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Sep 26, 2021Jan 02, 2024 behind the scenes, en no shita no chikaramochi, Japanese culture, literal meaning, pillar, powerful person, proverb, role, support, under the veranda

En no Shita no Chikaramochi (縁の下の力持ち – Power Behinds the Scenes)

En no Shita no Chikaramochi 縁の下の力持ち A person who works hard for someone else behind the scenes is called en Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Mar 07, 2018Jan 02, 2024 angle, appreciation, body language, bow, Buddhist terminology, eshaku, familiarity, Japanese culture, nod, upper body

Eshaku (会釈 – Bow/Nod)

Eshaku 会釈 Japanese people often do an act called 会釈 (eshaku), when they pass/meet their boss or acquaintance. 日本人は、上司や知り合いとすれ違うとき、よく「会釈（えしゃく）」をします。 “Eshaku” Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Onomatopoeia Uncorrected

Toru Jun 28, 2017Jan 03, 2024 chichin puipui, crying, foster mother, Iemitsu Tokugawa, Japanese culture, knowledge and power, ontakara, pain relief, Shogun, spell

Chichin Puipui (ちちんぷいぷい)

Chichin Puipui ちちんぷいぷい I think that almost all Japanese people have heard the spell, “chichin puipui.” 日本人なら「ちちんぷいぷい」という呪文を聞いたことがあると思います。 This spell is Read More

Culture Essay Japanese tradition Kanji Uncorrected

Toru Jun 28, 2015Jan 08, 2024 ciphers, enigmatic texts, Japanese culture, kanji, symbols

Japanese Young Girls’ Enigmatic Text

In Japan, young girls tend to use enigmatic texts like actual ciphers by combining various symbols or kanji. Today, I’d Read More