If you didn’t know, Japan has a rainy season called 梅雨（つゆ・tsuyu）. It arrives just before summer … 梅雨（つゆ）: The Beautiful Richness of Japanese Words for RainRead more
Japanese Language
The Surprisingly Cute Japanese Expression for Being Speechless
Many languages have their own way of describing that blank and wide-eyed look people get when … The Surprisingly Cute Japanese Expression for Being SpeechlessRead more
因果応報（いんがおうほう）: What Goes Around Comes Around
Greetings! I’ll be starting a new regular series featuring Japanese four-character idioms — also known as … 因果応報（いんがおうほう）: What Goes Around Comes AroundRead more
Why ありがとう Became “Thank You” in Japanese (Plus a Turtle Parable)
You probably already know that the Japanese word for “thank you” is ありがとう (arigatou). And yes, … Why ありがとう Became “Thank You” in Japanese (Plus a Turtle Parable)Read more
Laugh and Grow Fat: わらうかどにはふくきたる (Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru)
By the time February arrives, the sparkle of “new year, new me” has usually faded. Work … Laugh and Grow Fat: わらうかどにはふくきたる (Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru)Read more
Waifu, Mottainai, Yōkai: 11 Japanese Words Added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2025
In 2025, the Oxford English Dictionary added 11 Japanese words that cover a wonderfully chaotic range, … Waifu, Mottainai, Yōkai: 11 Japanese Words Added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2025Read more
Japanese Learning Roadmap: From Beginner to Fluent in 6 Steps
So, you want to learn Japanese. Great decision! But where do you start? How do you … Japanese Learning Roadmap: From Beginner to Fluent in 6 StepsRead more