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July 06, 2025
 

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NIHONGO

LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 15, 2019
'Uchi' is where the heart is
The Japanese word 'uchi' can have several meanings depending on the context it's being used in, but one common thread in all of them is an idea of closeness to the speaker.
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Apr 15, 2019
Odd translations found on English website for tourists
Read an article in Japanese on translation errors and answer questions on what you've read.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 15, 2019
使用? 利用? Make use of a dictionary to use your Japanese properly
As your Japanese improves you'll begin to find there are subtle nuances in the language that can stump even native speakers. That's when you turn to a Japanese dictionary.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 8, 2019
What does Reiwa really mean to Japanese?
It's not the government but the people of Japan who ultimately signify the era of Reiwa, not the other way around.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 8, 2019
Use 'shin' to make a new start in the Reiwa Era
Spring is the time for new life, the new school year, new coworkers and, in 2019, a new Imperial era.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 8, 2019
There's nothing more important than learning how to distinguish between 'taisetsu' and 'jūyō'
When trying to convey the idea of importance in Japanese use 'taisetsu' for things that are sentimentally important and 'ju016byu014d' for things that are signifficant.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2019
Japan assures world that Reiwa is all about 'beautiful harmony' and has nothing to do with 'command'
The move is intended to dispel what the ministry considers erroneous reports overseas that the new era name has connotations of “command” or “order.”
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 2, 2019
What's in a name? Reiwa reflects today's politics, Japan's cultural history and a social philosophy
Media hype over Reiwa, the newly announced name for the upcoming era, continued unabated Tuesday. At the same time, a majority of people appeared to happily welcome the name, which means "auspicious" (rei) and "peace" or "harmony" (wa).
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 1, 2019
Reiwa: Japan reveals name of new era ahead of Emperor's abdication
In a much-awaited moment that heralded the approach of a new chapter in Japan's history, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced Monday that the new Imperial era will be named Reiwa, in one of the final steps toward initiating the nation's first Imperial succession in three decades.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Apr 1, 2019
Take your Japanese to the point where you can even use 'sae' and 'made' correctly
The particles u307eu3067 and u3055u3048 both emphasize degree, the former expressing the limits of time, space, quantity and so on. By attaching it to a noun (X), the construction Xu307eu3067 can translate to “until X”
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 1, 2019
Heisei it ain't so! An era of great vocabulary is ending
In the beginning there was the word. More precisely, the prefix. When the Heisei Era officially started, on Jan. 8, 1989, Japan's economy was still merrily bubbling along. That must have been one reason for the popularity of 超 (chō, hyper-). The prefix itself is anything but new, but the idea to make...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 26, 2019
Suga to whittle down Japan era name candidates on April 1, with Cabinet's final decision later in day
The government plans to narrow down a list of candidates for the new era name on April 1, the same day it will pick and announce the next era name, government sources said Monday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 25, 2019
To differentiate a 'piri-piri' throat from a 'muzu-muzu' one, you'll have to know your onomatopoeia
If you ever want to take a break from grammar and reading when studying Japanese, dive into the world of 'giongo' and 'gitaigo.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 25, 2019
Whether something smells like rotten cheese or is just plain cheesy, 'kusai' is your go-to adjective
Kono otoko wa kusai. (This guy is sketchy.)
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Mar 25, 2019
Organizers give North Korea access to 2020 Olympics info
This article about North Korea and the 2020 Olympics is filled with technical terms that illustrate the importance of modifying clauses.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 18, 2019
Hay fever season gets people sneezing and talking
A good way to start a conversation in Japanese at this time of year is to talk about allergies and hay fever in particular. Learning the vocabulary for sore eyes and runny noses can also help at your local pharmacy.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 18, 2019
Hay fever can make life hard enough to use the adjective 'tsurai'
A word that indicates hardship, agony and pain, you're most likely to hear it at this time of year because of spring allergies or hangovers from cherry blossom parties.
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Mar 18, 2019
A teenager named 'Prince' changes his name out of embarrassment
Learn new words in this story about a teen who changed his name — including the word he no longer wanted to be associated with.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Mar 11, 2019
Turn an 'H' on its side and look what kanji you get
If you turn an 'H' on its side, you get something that looks like the kanji ku014d or ku, and from there you can go all sorts of places.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 11, 2019
How to carefully express carelessness in Japanese
You might be surprised how often you will use the Japanese expressions for 'carelessness' and 'without intention' once you've learned them
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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