In December of every year, publishing house called 自由国民社Jiyuukokuminsha announces the buzzword of the year in Japan. To everyone’s surprise, four buzzwords were chosen this year. This was the first time for the contest to announce multiple buzzwords of the year … Continue reading
Author Archives: Sakura
Matcha Latte Recipe
Matcha (抹茶 maccha) is Japanese stone-ground green tea powder, and it is rich in antioxidants! Matcha is the type of tea used in formal Japanese tea ceremonies. Because of its powder form, matcha can be easily added to baked goods and drinks. Here is a quick and easy recipe for hot matcha latte, which is perfect to sip on a cold winter day! Continue reading
Japanese Words Entered into English Dictionaries
Sushi and sake are probably the most well known Japanese words to English speakers. However, there are more than a few Japanese words that have entered into English dictionaries. Here are twenty-five of them; let’s see if you knew they were all Japanese! Continue reading
Japanese Horror Movies
For this year’s Halloween, how about watching J Horror, or Japanese horror movies? With the international success of リング (ringu - Ring), Japanese movies are now known for their horror genre in addition to anime and samurai genres. Continue reading
Hair Colors in Anime and Manga
Anyone who has seen manga (漫画) and anime (アニメ) knows that these forms of storytelling do not leave a lot to the imagination. But there are layers of symbolism at work that can escape notice unless you know what to look for. Let’s take an easy one; hair color. Continue reading
Japanese Vocabulary for Back-to-School
Learn Japanese vocabulary related to teachers just in time for the school year. Continue reading
How To Say Thank You In Japanese: The 9 Expressions You Need
You may already know the expression ありがとう Arigatou or its full form ありがとうございます Arigatou gozaimasu. But there are many more ways to show your gratitude! Let’s start with the variations of the simple ありがとう Arigatou: ありがとう Arigatou Thank you どうもありがとう … Continue reading
Japanese Movies for Mother’s Day
Celebrate Mother's Day by watching one of these two Japanese movies about moms and their children! Continue reading
Popular Dog Breeds in Japan and the U.S.
According to registration statistics from Japan Kennel Club and American Kennel Club, most popular dog breeds in Japan and the U.S. are quite different. In general, large dogs are popular in the U.S, while smaller dogs are popular in Japan. Continue reading
Children’s Day in Japan
こどもの日 Kodomo no hi Children's Day is celebrated in Japan on May 5, and it’s a national holiday Continue reading