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
vocabulary
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
Okonomiyaki: Japan’s Savory Pancake (+ Recipe!)
Have you heard of (or even eaten) お好み焼き (おこのみやき / okonomiyaki) before? To put it simply, okonomiyaki is … Okonomiyaki: Japan’s Savory Pancake (+ Recipe!)Read 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 is a Ham Sandwich
Learning a new language is a bit like making a ham sandwich. But how?