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September 04, 2025
 

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NIHONGO

LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 29, 2016
Joining Japanese words together to reveal the true nature of things
Once you understand how the pieces fit together, you can magically turn verbs into nouns and vice versa, expanding your Japanese vocabulary by leaps and bounds.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 29, 2016
Ramming home the point with dokoro ka
Introducing the meaning and usage of the particle of emphasis u3069u3053u308du304b and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 29, 2016
Bid for world heritage status for Christian sites retracted
The government has decided to retract its recommendation to UNESCO that a slew of churches and other Christian sites be listed as World Heritage sites.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 22, 2016
When it comes to taking the temperature and talking about it, Japanese is sensational
Where in English something is just 'cold,' in Japanese it's not so simple.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 22, 2016
Seeing the other side and defying expectations with 'han shite'
Today we will introduce the meaning and usage of the adverbial phrases Xu306bu53cd(u306fu3093)u3057u3066 (contrary to X) and Xu53cdu9762(u306fu3093u3081u3093) (on the contrary), which are mainly used in written language, formal speech, lectures or when talking about a rather serious theme. In the pattern X(noun/noun phrase)u306bu53cdu3057u3066Y(clause), X is usually a word like u4e88u60f3 (u3088u305du3046, anticipation), u671fu5f85 (u304du305fu3044, expectation), u4e88u6e2c (u3088u305du304f, prediction), u610fu5fd7 (u3044u3057, will) or u610fu601d (u3044u3057, intention), u6cd5u5f8b (u307bu3046u308au3064, law) or u30ebu30fcu30eb (rule), and Y is the result or fact that betrays the content of X. In Ms. Yamani's sentence in Situation 1, X is her and her staff's expectation that their product would sell better and Y is the fact that it is not. Its noun-modifying form is uff5eu306bu53cdu3057u305f, as in u5e38u8b58(u3058u3087u3046u3057u304d)u306bu53cdu3057u305fu884cu52d5(u3053u3046u3069u3046) (an action that defies common sense).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 22, 2016
Password hacks as simple as 1-2-3-4-5-6
Even after tens of millions of people had their online accounts hacked, many Internet users still rely on easy-to-guess passwords.
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 17, 2016
Views from Tokyo and Chiba: Have you made any memorable gaffes while learning another language?
Japanese and foreign nationals share their favorite embarrassing missteps on the long journey to second-language fluency.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 15, 2016
It's the season of love: Won't someone please grab hold of my chin?
In Japan these days, it can seem as if love itself is on the decline — and that no one really cares.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 15, 2016
SMAP's 2003 single tops chart
An old CD single by SMAP returned to No. 1 in the charts as fans alarmed by news of the group's apparently imminent breakup launched a campaign to show their support for the group.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 8, 2016
Words about sentences: the Japanese vocab of crime and punishment
Navigating the terms and kanji involved in the penal process in Japan can be a trial in itself.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 8, 2016
Living up to great expectations with 'dake atte'
Introducing the meaning and usage of Xu3060u3051u3042u3063u3066Y.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 8, 2016
Japan tourism record broken in 2015
A record 19.73 million foreigners visited Japan in 2015, a 47.3 percent increase over the total for 2014.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 1, 2016
Taking a stand and speaking from it with 'to shite'
Introducing various usages of the phrase Xu3068u3057u3066 (as/being X).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 1, 2016
'Hunk' Nagoya gorilla stars in recruitment drive
A famous gorilla in Nagoya is starring in a video to promote the city's municipal job recruitment effort.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 1, 2016
Look to 'senpai' to help take your Japanese reading to the next level
If not for the generosity of several brave and patient souls, I would never have developed the foundation necessary to read on my own.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 25, 2016
There are many way-zu in Japanese to show there's more than one
In contrast to English, in Japanese the grammatical marking of plurals is optional, meaning the whole matter is dealt with a lot less systematically.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 25, 2016
Just passing through the domains of 'tori' and 'dori'
Introducing various meanings and uses of u901a(u3068u304a)u308a, the nominalized form of the verb u901au308b (to pass by/go through).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 25, 2016
Latest 'Star Wars' makes biggest global debut
The new 'Star Wars' movie has set a global opening weekend box-office record, smashing past the previous holder, 'Jurassic World.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 18, 2016
Loving you for a long time with 'zutto'
Introducing various meanings and ways of using the adverb u305au3063u3068, which expresses greatness.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 18, 2016
China to build biggest cloning factory
The world's largest animal cloning factory is under construction in the northern port city of Tianjin
Surrounded by Chinese bases, a tiny Philippine island stands firm
A Philippine Navy sailor looks at a China Coast Guard vessel just off the coast of Pag-asa Island in the disputed South China Sea last month.
Musk voices support for anti-immigration rally in Japan
Elon Musk has voiced support for anti-immigration protest in Japan, where a "Japanese First" party saw gains in recent elections.
Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami resigns over alleged possession of illegal drugs
Takeshi Niinami, then-chief executive officer of Suntory Holdings, in May 2024
‘Mount Fuji Lawson’ becomes a symbol of Japan’s overtourism problem
A couple poses for a wedding photo in front of a Lawson in the town of Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Aug. 25.
Indian delegation to Shanghai summit will give China's parade a miss
Members of the Indian delegation, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (third from left), attend a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday.
Xi — joined by Kim and Putin — delivers stark warning at military parade
Chinese leader Xi Jinping walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on Wednesday.
Tamagotchi hatches 100 million shipments worldwide thanks to ’90s nostalgia
The latest version of Tamagotchi, called Tamagotchi Paradise, is awarded the best digital toy at Tokyo Toy Show on Aug. 28.
Why Stalin didn’t invade Hokkaido still largely unknown, 80 years after WWII
During a survey to collect the remains of victims from the Taito Maru, one of the vessels involved in the Three Ships Incident, a metal helmet was found near the stern of the vessel on Aug. 5, 1984, at Rumoi Port. No human remains were discovered.
More sweltering days forecast for September after hottest summer on record
By the end of August, 8,341 people had been transported by ambulance for heatstroke in Tokyo alone.
Surrounded by Chinese bases, a tiny Philippine island stands firm
A Philippine Navy sailor looks at a China Coast Guard vessel just off the coast of Pag-asa Island in the disputed South China Sea last month.

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

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons
Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

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