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May 21, 2024
 

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Akemi Tanahashi
For Akemi Tanahashi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 27, 2017
Falling in line and expressing change with 'shitagatte'
Introducing the phrase Xu306bu5f93(u3057u305fu304c)u3063u3066 (following/in line with X) and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 20, 2017
Be careful not to mix up your 'hagemu' with your 'hageru'
Introducing some verbs that sound similar but have very different meanings.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 13, 2017
Adding 'ao,' the blue that can also be green, to your Japanese linguistic palette
Introducing the noun u9752 (u3042u304a), meaning blue, and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 6, 2017
Do the whole shebang and take it to the limit with 'kiru'
Introducing the verb u5207(u304d)u308b and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 30, 2017
Showing things are tough or a breeze using 'nikui,' katai' and 'yasui'
Introducing two kinds of compound adjective, Xu3084u3059u3044 (easy to X) and Xu306bu304fu3044 (difficult to X).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 23, 2017
Better to be read than end up misled about the uses of 'mashi'
Introduce the na-adjective u307eu3057u306a — meaning better — and its related expressions.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 16, 2017
Do not disturb: Mind your 'jamas' and 'shitsureis' as you come and go in Japan
Introducing two expressions used in formal comings and goings: u304au3058u3083u307eu3057u307eu3059 and u5931u793c(u3057u3064u308cu3044)u3057u307eu3059.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 9, 2017
Play down the hype with a so-so phrase
Un ... māmā-kana. (Hmm. It was ... so-so.)
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 2, 2017
Start your year off with the right Japanese greeting
Around New Year's Day you'll hear 'yoroshiku' a lot, but it's a word that's useful throughout the year.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 26, 2016
If it's time for a change, it's time for 'kawari ni' or 'kawatte'
Today, we will introduce u304bu308fu308au306b and u304bu308fu3063u3066, which both indicate an exchange. Xu304bu308fu308au306bY expresses that someone does Y instead of X. Y is the thing that makes up for X. X is a noun + u306e or the noun modifying form of a verb or adjective.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 19, 2016
Getting your thoughts together and settling things with 'matomeru' and 'matomaru'
Introducing the proper use of two verbs, u307eu3068u3081u308b and u307eu3068u307eu308b.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 12, 2016
Coming to a logical conclusion with 'wake da'
Introducing the sentence-ending expression Xu308fu3051u3060, which is used when the speaker wants to explain a reasonable conclusion based on what they have seen or heard.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 5, 2016
In denial with 'wake ga nai' and 'hazu ga nai'
Introducing two expressions — u308fu3051u304cu306au3044 and u306fu305au304cu306au3044 — that express strong denial.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 28, 2016
Be inspiring, break the news gently or just buy some time with versatile 'saa'
Introducing some uses of the interjection u3055u3042 (saa), which is often heard in spoken language.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 21, 2016
Taking things to the wire with 'girigiri' and 'suresure'
Introducing the proper uses of two similar expressions — u304eu308au304eu308aand u3059u308cu3059u308c .
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 14, 2016
With 'bun,' get your share in Japanese — or as much as you put in
Introducing some expressions using u5206 (u3076u3093), which means 'share,' 'part' or 'portion.'
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 7, 2016
Articulating the unknown, unreliable or just plain dodgy with 'ayashii'
Introducing some uses of the adjective u3042u3084u3057u3044, which means 'dubious' or 'strange.'
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 31, 2016
Using 'kiri' in Japanese to leave it at that
Introduce some uses of u304du308a, which is used to set limits on things.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 24, 2016
Getting quite a lot across with 'kanari' and 'daibu'
Introducing the use of two adverbs, u304bu306au308a and u3060u3044u3076, that show the degree of something.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 17, 2016
Leaving some things left unsaid with 'no ni' and 'kedo'
Today we will introduce the use of u306eu306b and u3051u3069 as sentence-ending particles.
Rare sequel to 'My Neighbor Totoro' to play at Cannes
A screening of "Mei and the Baby Cat Bus," which is being billed as a "mini-sequel" to the Studio Ghibli classic "My Neighbor Totoro," is set to take place at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday.
America wasn’t made for walking, and it’s killing them
A 2010 study found that U.S. adults averaged 5,117 steps daily and that this was lower than the averages found in similar studies in Switzerland, western Australia and Japan.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
Why half of Japan's cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years
A couple looks out onto the Fukuoka nightscape. Due to its distance from Tokyo and its close proximity to South Korea and China, professor Tomoya Mori believes that Fukuoka is one of the few metropolitan regions of Japan that will see some form of growth in the decades to come.
Japan concerned over U.S. officials' remarks on atomic bombings
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters during a news conference in Washington on Thursday.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
The politicians moving Japan forward on climate
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
Seoul's eclectic Art OnO shines light on Japan's artists and galleries
Art OnO, which took place from April 19 to 21 in Seoul, featured a modest number of 36 participating galleries from 15 countries.
Want to be a voice actor? Stay 'true to the character'
SungWon Cho is a veteran with more than 10 years of experience portraying characters in anime, cartoons and video games.
Local theater in Japan is more than a hobby — it’s a community
Japan Times contributor Laura Pollacco (front right) was offered the role of one of her all-time favorite heroines, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, in the Tokyo International Players’ production of “Pride and Prejudice.”

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle
Live like a lord or lady for a night at Ozu Castle

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