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May 17, 2024
 

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Hitomi Tashiro
For Hitomi Tashiro's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
May 28, 2018
Getting things straight and getting things done in Japanese with 'n desu kara' and 'n desu kedo'
Introducing the proper use of Xu3093u3067u3059u304bu3089u3001Y and Xu3093u3067u3059u3051u3069u3001Y.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
May 21, 2018
Explaining what you see and hear with 'no da'
Introducing u306eu3060, a phrase that is frequently used in daily conversation but has no good translation in English.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
May 14, 2018
Give your Japanese verbs wings using 'agaru' and 'ageru'
Introduce the basic meanings and uses of compound verb structures Vu4e0a(u3042)u304cu308b and Vu4e0a(u3042)u3052u308b.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
May 7, 2018
A formal lesson on informal endings
Introducing the proper use of the sentence-ending particles of u306a(u3042) and u306d(u3048).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Apr 30, 2018
It's a relief knowing the difference between '安心' and '安全'
Introducing two words that distinguish between feelings of relief and safety.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 23, 2018
You should get the hang of 'そのうち' and '今に' soon enough
Introducing two adverbs that show the near future, u305du306eu3046u3061 and u4ecau306b.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 16, 2018
If it's an explanation of how to use 'nara' you're looking for, here it is
Introducing how to use Xu306au3089u3001Y, meaning 'if X, Y' or 'if it is the case that X, Y.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 9, 2018
Pretty vacant: Being barely there in Japanese with 'bonyari' and 'botto'
Introducing two expressions, u307cu3093u3084u308a and u307cu3046u3063u3068, that indicate someone or something is dim, distant or vacant.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 2, 2018
Taking an interest in describing hobbies
Shōhin-ni tsuite go-setsumei-shitara, kyōmi-o shimeshite-kudasaimashita. (When I explained our product, they showed interest in it.)
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 26, 2018
Showing some style using 'shiki' and 'fu'
Explaining the difference between the compound nouns Xu5f0f (u3057u304d) and Xu98a8(u3075u3046), both of which mean 'in the style of X.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 19, 2018
Joining up contradictory conditions in Japanese with 'ippo'
Fudan-no seikatsu-wa setsuyaku-suru ippō, o-iwaigoto-wa hade-ni suru. (They economize in their daily lives on the one hand but pull out all the stops for celebrations.)
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 12, 2018
More than one way to use 'ippo' in Japanese
Looking at the noun u4e00u65b9 (u3044u3063u307du3046, one side/the other side) and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 26, 2018
Getting things done with just 'dake de' alone
Looking into the meanings and uses of the expression Xu3060u3051u3067Y.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 19, 2018
Getting things out there in Japanese with 'dasu'
introducing some meanings and uses of the verb u51fa(u3060)u3059 and its compound verbs.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 12, 2018
When thinking of using 'omou,' remember the subject dictates the form
Introducing ways of using the verb u601d(u304au3082)u3046 (to think) correctly.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 5, 2018
Put some extra nuance into your verbs with 'komu'
Today we'll introduce some meanings and usages of the verb u8fbcuff08u3053uff09u3080, which means to be crowded/to include, as in u3053u306eu96fbu8ecauff08u3067u3093u3057u3083uff09u306fu8fbcu3093u3067u3044u308bu304bu3089u6b21uff08u3064u304euff09u306eu306bu3057u3088u3046u3002(This train is crowded so we should wait for the next one.) u8fbcu3080 can be attached to an action verb (X) to create the compound verb Xu8fbcu3080, which adds the idea of entering, going inside or putting something inside.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 22, 2018
Know your impressed 'kanshin' from your interested 'kanshin'
A look at the homonyms u611fu5fc3 (admiration) and u95a2u5fc3 (concern), which have nothing to do with each other.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 15, 2018
Finally, after all, know the difference between 'yatto' and 'kekkyoku'
Introduce some usages of the adverbs u3084u3063u3068 (at last/finally) and u7d50u5c40 (u3051u3063u304du3087u304f, after all).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 8, 2018
Terms related to New Year's celebrations
What's the phrase for 'auspicious' in Japanese?
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 25, 2017
Knowing the difference between 'shinpai' and 'fuan'
How do you say 'I'm worried about how senior citizens live alone' in Japanese?
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
Kishida defends planned rule to revoke foreigners' residency
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a meeting of the Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Human bone-like objects found at Nippon Steel plant’s molten iron pot, with one worker missing
Police believe it’s highly possible that human bones found in a molten iron pot at Nippon Steel's Oita factory belong to a missing male employee.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Man suspected of using smart glasses to cheat on Waseda University exams
The Waseda University campus in Tokyo. An 18-year-old male test-taker is suspected of using smart glasses to cheat during the university's entrance exam.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Who’s toughest on China? Biden’s tariff tactic ups ante as election looms.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about new actions to protect American workers and businesses from China's "unfair" trade practices, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.
Ishin struggles to set itself apart from other parties
Nippon Ishin no Kai Secretary-General Fumitake Fujita (right) speaks beside Yui Kanazawa, the party's candidate in the Tokyo 15th district by-election on April 28. Nippon Ishin lost in this by-election as well as another in Nagasaki held on the same day.
In Japan, 68,000 people over 65 projected to die alone at home this year
As Japan grapples with its population's rapid aging, supporting people who live and age alone is looming larger on the policy agenda.

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

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