"Itadakimasu" and "Gochisousama" are more than just good wishes for your meal in Japanese.
Maria PeñascalApril 11, 2025
In Japanese, saying "yes" isn’t always simple — there are multiple expressions depending on politeness, context, and relationships. Similarly, while…
Marie BorgersMarch 13, 2025
Say Otsukaresama, or "you are tired", anytime during the day to colleagues, to show your appreciation for their hard work.
Maria PeñascalMarch 7, 2025
Planning a trip to Japan? Whether you are navigating Tokyo’s complex train system, trying to interact with friendly locals, or…
Maria PeñascalFebruary 14, 2025
In Japan, as well as in many other countries, birthdays are a reason for celebration. But has it always been…
Chiara CampanileAugust 18, 2022
So you've decided, perhaps to study Japanese or work, to take the plunge and move to Japan. If there is one thing…
Anna ToccoliMay 13, 2022
If you have friends or relatives in Japan, you might have tried to send a letter or a parcel abroad.…
Manon ChauvrisApril 30, 2022
Passion for Japan often makes people want to learn the Japanese language beyond the basic expressions such as "arigato". Nowadays,…
Stefania Da PontNovember 29, 2021
When it comes to popular entertainment, Japan is famous mainly thanks to anime and manga. However, there is a whole…
Chiara CampanileOctober 13, 2021
In everyday life in Japan, Arabic numerals (1,2,3...) are widely used, but each number still has its own Kanji character…
Marie BorgersSeptember 13, 2021
Just as with face-to-face interactions, standard telephone exchanges in Japan follow a formal code of politeness. This is when you…
Marie BorgersAugust 24, 2021
Knowing a few basic Japanese words and holding a conversation can be very helpful in Japan, especially in a country…
Marie BorgersJuly 27, 2021
Greetings and manners are especially important at business meetings in Japan. Be sure to observe the proper etiquette when exchanging…
VoyaponJune 11, 2021
In Japan, names hold deep cultural and linguistic significance. For many Japanese parents, choosing the perfect first name is more…
Marie BorgersMarch 24, 2021
It is said that love is universal. That all human beings, wherever they are from, understand and express it with…
Lucia TsujiguchiJanuary 20, 2021
Kanji. The bane of students of Japanese, of certain carefree T-shirt designers and tattoo artists victims of customers lacking enough…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 14, 2021
Improving your Japanese level or delving into different areas of Japanese culture from your own country can be easier than…
Maria PeñascalJanuary 13, 2021
Is it really necessary to know how to speak Japanese when you visit Japan? The short answer is no. Japanese…
Todd FongOctober 29, 2020
Gomennasai (ごめんなさい) is perhaps one of the first words that you will learn when you become interested in the Japanese language.…
Jo. HernándezSeptember 10, 2020
Addressing someone in Japanese is a bit complicated, as honorific titles or suffixes will have to be used accordingly and…
VoyaponSeptember 5, 2020
Saying thank you in Japanese can be more than a simple "arigatou". You can either add more words to it…
Stefania Da PontApril 7, 2020
The Japanese language is clearly very different from English. Aside from having different roots, the text is also no sibling…
Nina CataldoNovember 3, 2016
I recently told a friend of mine that I want to go live in the Tsugaru region of Aomori for…
Luka JacksonOctober 12, 2016
This article takes a deeper look into the Japanese word of "genki", a concept that can be traced back to…
VoyaponMay 17, 2016
Apologizing in Japanese is more than just "sumimasen". This article looks at how to say sorry in varied degrees of…
VoyaponMay 2, 2016
Bearing in mind that many seafood have a variety of names depending on the region in Japan, a Japanese-English lexicon…
Robert-Gilles MartineauMarch 12, 2016
Even with a map in hand, it is not uncommon for tourists (and even the locals!) to get lost in…
Jose I. EspindolaFebruary 22, 2016
