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July 06, 2025
 

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VOCABULARY

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 14, 2021
Japanese for when you’re lost in life — or just lost on the road
While we can't say 2021 has been defined by loss, it's pretty evident that a feeling of being lost has popped up in a lot of situations.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 3, 2021
It's the question on everyone’s mask-covered lips: 'Wakuchin utta?'
Whether you have received a vaccine or not, you may be finding that conversations about Pfizer and Moderna are becoming more common than chats about the weather.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 20, 2021
Make Japanese politics more concrete by training your ears
Training your ears to catch the sounds of certain Japanese words might make listening to people talk about politics a little more comprehensible.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 13, 2021
Discovering 'meaning' in Japanese with one kanji in particular
As we reflect on the Olympics, some may be wondering what the significance of holding them during a pandemic was. The kanji that helps express that is used for other deep thoughts, too.
LIFE / Language
Aug 12, 2021
Giving an overall take on the end of the Olympics in Japanese
What did you like and dislike about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony? Let's practice some terms that help when we want to give our opinion in Japanese.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 6, 2021
Using Japanese to discuss victory and defeat at the Tokyo Olympics
It's not accurate to say that anyone who doesn't medal at the Olympics is a loser, but the language of winning and losing is very much a part of Japanese.
LIFE / Language
Jul 31, 2021
Skateboarding slang comes to the hallowed halls of NHK
'Hella risky' and 'totally hot' are not the usual terms that NHK commentators use on air, but Ryo Sejiri isn't your usual commentator.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 30, 2021
Gold, silver and bronze aren't just words for the Olympics
With all the talk about gold, silver and bronze medals, take a look at some metal-related vocabulary that you can use even when the Games are done.
LIFE / Language
Jul 29, 2021
The many views of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony
Use Japanese words such as 'suki' or 'yoi' to tell people that you liked or didn't like the opening ceremony for this year's Olympics.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 23, 2021
Explore the vocabulary of beginnings ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympics
The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics may have you thinking about new beginnings and fresh starts. It's time to raise the curtain on some new vocabulary.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 16, 2021
Know the right words to use when speaking to the police in Japanese
With the Olympics less than a week away, police may be increasing the amount of random spot checks they regularly engage in. Learn some vocabulary to help you if you get stopped.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 9, 2021
Grow your Japanese with care, like the plants in a garden
Before you start planting seeds, make sure you know if you want 'yasai' or 'hana' — and make sure you know what those even are.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 2, 2021
‘PPAP,’ ‘golden jewels’ and other words that make the Japanese giggle
Website Omocoro conducted a survey of 365 Japanese people asking them what words in the language sound the funniest. Body parts, 'p' sounds and croutons all made the comedic cut.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 25, 2021
Japan's office workers get poetic on life during the pandemic
The nation's office workers express themselves on COVID-19 and pop culture for the 34th Senryu for Salaried Workers Contest.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / Vocabulary Boost
Jun 25, 2021
Variants, the Olympics and other boosters for your vocabulary
Frequent Japanese words popping up in the media have more to do with vaccinations, but could an Olympic shift be ahead?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 18, 2021
Take in the beauty of Hokusai's wave and then give your verdict on it in Japanese
Learn the basics of art criticism in Japanese while taking in Katsushika Hokusai's iconic print, 'Under the Wave off Kanagawa.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 12, 2021
What exactly does it mean when someone tells you to ‘act your age’?
The phrase 'ii toshi shite' can make someone chuckle or could cause offense. Make sure you use it carefully.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 4, 2021
Dress like Naruto? Great cosplay. Speak like Naruto? Hmm, chotto …
With anime's popularity booming, some may see it as a shortcut to learning Japanese. But you wouldn't necessarily learn English from Donald Duck, would you?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 14, 2021
When you find the right notes to learn Japanese, even karaoke can be your classroom
From children's lullabies to visual-kei, writing out lyrics and singing along to Japanese pop can help you with everyday conversation.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 4, 2021
Focus on sentence endings to 'see the future' in Japanese
Once you get an idea of what kinds of verbs come at the end of Japanese sentences, particularly in news reports, your brain can concentrate on deciphering the rest in more detail.
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

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

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