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August 26, 2025
 

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LANGUAGE

Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Nov 23, 2017
France's ban on gender-neutral language sets off national debate
France has banned the use of gender-neutral language in official documents, cheering defenders of linguistic tradition and angering feminists who see it as a setback for equal rights.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 20, 2017
The Japanese love to play number games
How would you read the name of a person whose kanji is written u4e00 u4e09u516bu5b50?
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 20, 2017
Introducing the phrase 'iru'
How do you say 'Oh, the window is open' in Japanese?
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Nov 20, 2017
Comedian Uchimura to present year-end song contest
NHK announced Nov. 13 that the main presenter for the 68th edition of the annual New Year's eve 'Kohaku Uta Gassen' (Red and White Song Battle) will be Teruyoshi Uchimura, 53, of comedy duo Utchan Nanchan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Nov 20, 2017
Let's discuss school rules
A Japanese public high school has come under fire for its strict policy regarding the color of its students' hair.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Nov 13, 2017
Let's discuss Ivanka Trump's visit to Japan
Ivanka Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shared a stage during a summit in Tokyo on Nov. 3.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 6, 2017
When asking for a favor in Japanese, take your pick from these depending on politeness
Introduce expressions in Nihongo that politely ask the listener to do something.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 30, 2017
Some Japanese to scream at the screen this Halloween
Before you binge-watch a bunch of scary films, learn a few Japanese words and phrases to practice shouting at the screen.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 30, 2017
At last! Figuring out the difference between ‘iyoiyo’ and ‘toto’
Finally, learn how to sum things up with u3044u3088u3044u3088, and give it extra feeling with u3068u3046u3068u3046.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Oct 30, 2017
Lower House voter turnout second-lowest in postwar era
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the final figures for voter turnout on Oct. 23. The typhoon didn't help.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 23, 2017
'Dajare' 101: Why should Japanese have all the pun?
Chicago-born TV personality Dave Spector is the undisputed master of puns in Japan's u82b8u80fdu754c ('geinokai,' entertainment world).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 16, 2017
Japanese women graduating from motherhood
The Japanese u6bcd (haha, mother) of lore gave her children unconditional love while protecting them from the wrath and u7406u4e0du5c3d (rifujin, unreasonableness).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 16, 2017
Taking yourself out of the equation with 'koto ni naru,' and showing change with 'yo ni naru'
Introducing two similar expressions: u3053u3068u306bu306au308b and u3088u3046u306bu306au308b.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Oct 2, 2017
In some Japanese sentences, it's all relative
An example of relative clauses: 'The article that I'm about to read doesn't look very interesting.'
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 2, 2017
Introducing the adjective 'sawayaka'
How do you say 'We've finally reached the season for crisp weather' in Japanese?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Oct 2, 2017
Let's discuss telecommuting
Telecommuting from Shari, Hokkaido
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 25, 2017
Learn Japanese as you travel the world
Japanese guidebooks are more than just vocabulary lessons. They provide subtle insight into Japanese grammar as well.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 18, 2017
Sumo helps with heavy lifting in language
Consider today's column my personal testimony that the sport of sumo can be a very useful aid for learning the Japanese language.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Sep 18, 2017
Introducing the set phrase 'ni kakete'
How do you say, 'I gave employee training from late August to early September' in Japanese?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Sep 18, 2017
Let’s discuss young talent in sports
Sometimes, the sport you are playing might not be the right fit for you, and you might have the potential to excel in something else.
Character-crazed Japan has little appetite for Labubu
A pop-up advertisement for the newly opened Chiikawa Park in Tokyo's Ikebukuro neighborhood demonstrates how the country is chockful of cute characters — to the detriment of trends like Labubu.
Are 'coolcations' the answer for Japan's heat-weary tourists?
Hikers on a trail in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture. As extreme heat continues to grip Japan, a tectonic shift may be underway in the nation’s summer tourism scene as more people gravitate toward cooler destinations.
JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations
The Japanese flag (left) with the flag of the African Union
Man arrested in Kobe stabbing had been staying at hotel near victim’s home
Masashi Tanimoto arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a woman in Kobe, is sent to prosecutors on Sunday.
Tokyo releases AI-generated video of Mount Fuji erupting
A screenshot from an AI-generated video showing what could happen to Tokyo if Mount Fuji erupted
Are 'coolcations' the answer for Japan's heat-weary tourists?
Hikers on a trail in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture. As extreme heat continues to grip Japan, a tectonic shift may be underway in the nation’s summer tourism scene as more people gravitate toward cooler destinations.
Germany's first sakemaker offers a bold brew of ideas
Reigen, Germany's first sake brewery, makes a diverse, nontraditional range of sake that includes fruit-flavored sips and wine barrel-aged renditions.
Alicia Keys closed Summer Sonic, but J-pop owned it
Summer Sonic’s 2025 lineup demonstrated its strength, showcasing the latest in J-pop, including “new kawaii” act Fruits Zipper.
Is the LDP’s catch-all approach to politics still effective?
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi visits Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15. Political commentator Toru Hashimoto has suggested that Takaichi ought to lead a group of like-minded hawkish politicians out of the Liberal Democratic Party and form their own party.
Fingers sore from too much phone time? You might have ‘sumaho yubi.’
A catch-all term for tendonitis and arthritis caused by excessive smartphone use, 'sumaho yubi' may be difficult to treat for gadget-crazy Japan.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after
Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

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