Language Dec 3, 2018
A dash of hiragana in the 'foreign' soup
by Hannah Kunert and Peter Backhaus
Japanese words you'd think should be written in katakana will sometimes show up in hiragana. There's a cultural reason behind these rare switches.
Language | WELL SAID Dec 3, 2018
Coming up with exceptions in Japanese can be tricky, but helpful
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
The word "tada" and it's rarer counterpart "mottomo" help link sentences in conversational and written Japanese.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Dec 3, 2018
Tokyo's summers are hot. That means upcoming Olympic events may need to start earlier in the morning.
Language | MORNING ENGLISH Dec 3, 2018
The arrest of Carlos Ghosn made headlines around the world. Check out some of the vocabulary used when discussing this kind of case.
Language Nov 26, 2018
The kanji used for 'normal' are pretty extraordinary
by Mark Schreiber
In May, an article in the business magazine President cited a survey of newly hired company workers in which a majority of those recruited this year indicated they were content to "strive for the commonplace."
Language Nov 26, 2018
'Aru' exists to serve more than one purpose
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
To indicate the state of a thing or matter, use the て-form of a verb (X) and add ある (to exist) on the end.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Nov 26, 2018
Japan Airlines (JAL) submitted an investigative report to the transport ministry on Nov. 16 concerning the arrest of one of its copilots by British police due to his heavy drinking before a London to Haneda flight.
Language | MORNING ENGLISH Nov 26, 2018
Oriental Land Co. Ltd., the operator of Tokyo Disneyland, asked a court Tuesday to reject a suit filed by two female workers seeking damages for overwork and harassment while they were working as costumed performers at the theme park.
National / Social Issues Nov 20, 2018
As foreign labor system evolves, education has to play catch-up
Japanese-language education is becoming more important for children of foreign residents in Japan at a time when the government is planning to introduce a new visa system to increase the number of foreign workers. Elementary and junior high schools accept children with almost no conditions ...
Language | WELL SAID Nov 19, 2018
Two words that seem completely similar to one another — how do you tell the difference?
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
The words "sokkuri" and "sukkari" are used to show resemblance, but one can be used in entirely different situations.
Language Nov 19, 2018
by Mark Schreiber
What's that word, the one for when you like a person but are too shy to say so? Or how about the one you use when you visit Tokyo Disney? Well, one book has all the answers.
Language | BILINGUAL Nov 12, 2018
Don't worry about slipping up in spoken Japanese, you're only carrot after all
by David Mcneill
Come commiserate with perpetual learners of the language over a shared ability to fill an everyday conversation with gaffes.