Language | MORNING ENGLISH Mar 7, 2016
February in Tokyo was the season for running, as thousands prepared for one of the world's major sports events: the Tokyo Marathon.
Language | BILINGUAL Feb 29, 2016
Joining Japanese words together to reveal the true nature of things
by Mark Schreiber
Once you understand how the pieces fit together, you can magically turn verbs into nouns and vice versa, expanding your Japanese vocabulary by leaps and bounds.
Language | WELL SAID Feb 29, 2016
Ramming home the point with dokoro ka
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
Introducing the meaning and usage of the particle of emphasis どころか and its related expressions.
Language | COMMUNICATION CUES Feb 29, 2016
The government has decided to retract its recommendation to UNESCO that a slew of churches and other Christian sites be listed as World Heritage sites.
Language | MORNING ENGLISH Feb 29, 2016
Tokyo's Ota Ward has given permission to an online travel service provider to start renting out private homes based on the popular Airbnb model.
Language | BILINGUAL Feb 22, 2016
When it comes to taking the temperature and talking about it, Japanese is sensational
by Peter Backhaus
Where in English something is just "cold," in Japanese it's not so simple.
Language | WELL SAID Feb 22, 2016
Seeing the other side and defying expectations with 'han shite'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
Today we will introduce the meaning and usage of the adverbial phrases Xに反(はん)して (contrary to X) and X反面(はんめん) (on the contrary), which are mainly used in written language, formal speech, lectures or when talking about a rather serious theme. In the pattern X(noun/noun phrase)に反してY(clause), X is usually a word like 予想 (よそう, anticipation), 期待 (きたい, expectation), 予測 (よそく, prediction), 意志 (いし, will) or 意思 (いし, intention), 法律 (ほうりつ, law) or ルール (rule), and Y is the result or fact that betrays the content of X. In Ms. Yamani's sentence in Situation 1, X is her and her staff's expectation that their product would sell better and Y is the fact that it is not. Its noun-modifying form is ～に反した, as in 常識(じょうしき)に反した行動(こうどう) (an action that defies common sense). ...
Language | COMMUNICATION CUES Feb 22, 2016
Even after tens of millions of people had their online accounts hacked, many Internet users still rely on easy-to-guess passwords.
Language | MORNING ENGLISH Feb 22, 2016
New guidelines to help prevent injuries when students take part in coordinated group gymnastics will be drafted by the end of March.
Issues | LEARNING CURVE Feb 17, 2016
Developing confidence in English through Skype and scarecrows
by Louise George Kittaka
Innovative classes in Shikoku hone students' cultural sensitivity as well as their communication skills.
Voices | VIEWS FROM THE STREET Feb 17, 2016
Views from Tokyo and Chiba: Have you made any memorable gaffes while learning another language?
by Mark Buckton
Japanese and foreign nationals share their favorite embarrassing missteps on the long journey to second-language fluency.
Language | BILINGUAL Feb 15, 2016
It's the season of love: Won't someone please grab hold of my chin?
by Kaori Shoji
In Japan these days, it can seem as if love itself is on the decline — and that no one really cares.