Language | WELL SAID Dec 10, 2019
The grammar point known as 'to iu'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
When you're trying to describe what something is in Japanese, the structure 'to iu' can come in very handy.
Language | BILINGUAL Dec 10, 2019
The language involved with a gluten-free diet in Japan
by Samantha Seghers
Some restaurants in Japan are beginning to offer gluten-free options, but if you want to be certain then it's better to know the words that will help you avoid a dietary disaster.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Dec 10, 2019
Kyodo news looks at a manga that tells the experience of one Uighur woman.
Language | BILINGUAL Dec 3, 2019
Being your best self in spoken Japanese with the cast of 'Queer Eye'
by Daniel Morales
When Western ideas on self-improvement are expressed in Japanese, what kinds of words pop up most often?
Language | WELL SAID Dec 3, 2019
Add a touch of sparkle to your Japanese holiday vocabulary
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
The "gira-gira" of the hot summer sun's glare gives way to the "kira-kira" of festive lights decorating the streets for the holidays.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Dec 3, 2019
Year-end, work-related drinking parties are falling into disfavor
A Kyodo article looks at the annoyance of mandatory end-of-year parties and outlines the best type to have — short and seldom.
National Dec 2, 2019
Japanese rugby's 'One Team' motto declared buzzword of 2019
by Masumi Koizumi
"One Team," Japan's slogan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, was picked as buzzword of the year on Monday after the Brave Blossoms thrilled fans with their historic advance to the top eight. The annual awards are announced in early December, when the top buzzword ...
Language | BILINGUAL Nov 26, 2019
You say 'Nihon,' I say 'Nippon,' or let's call the whole thing 'Japan'?
by Mark Schreiber
There's a famous part of Tokyo called Nihonbashi, but a place in Osaka using the same kanji is pronounced Nipponbashi. When do you use the "ho" and when do you use the "po"? It depends on what everyone else is saying.
Language | WELL SAID Nov 26, 2019
Work toward mastery of 'ni mukete' and 'o mezashite'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
The structures "ni mukete" and "o mezashite" help express your working toward a goal, with the latter being the more concrete option.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Nov 26, 2019
A Kyodo story reviews language dealing with the "kyōsei shūyō" of Japanese Americans.
Language | BILINGUAL Nov 19, 2019
Reuniting with old Japanese friends of all different kinds
by Samantha Seghers
Whether they're your "shin'yū," your "tomodachi" or your "nakama," reuniting with Japanese friends is always a blast.
Language | WELL SAID Nov 19, 2019
Get some experience using 'keiken' and 'taiken'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
Two words that convey the meaning of experience, "keiken" and "taiken," have slightly different nuances when used in Japanese.