Manga
In the West, comic books are typically thought of as “kids’ stuff” and the adults who enjoy them are usually thought of as adults who refuse to grow up—and not in a good way. Although some graphic novels have tackled…
The Japanese Tutor
Onsens
In Japan, it is quite common to take a relaxing soak in a bath at the end of each day and it is a daily chore to scrub one’s tub to keep it clean and free from mold. Nowhere is…
Grammar: How To Use The “Ni” Particle In Japanese
The Japanese particle ni is one of the most frequently employed particles because it has so many different uses. There is no single English translation for the particle ni because much depends on the context in which the particle is…
Sumo
Two men enter the 5-foot round platform and face the crowded arena. They clap their hands and then stomp their legs, driving evil spirits from the ring. Once finished, they retreat to opposite corners, each taking a ladleful of “power…
Hanami Cherry Blossom Viewing Parties
When the frost of winter finally recedes and the birds and bees start showing up to enjoy the warming air, flowers begin to bloom all over the country of Japan. To relax and take in the beauty of the rows…
Japanese Theater
Long before the Internet, television, and cinema, people had to go to the theater to see fantastic stories brought to life. The theater has been a nearly-universal attraction since the ancient Egyptians first put on a play performance of one…
Japanese Food
The staple of a Japanese meal is rice, the most important domestic crop. While the Westerner might have bread, rice is served with nearly every traditional Japanese meal, from plain rice cooked in a specialized rice cooker to vinegared rice…
Sushi
You and a row of people sit facing a winding conveyer belt, chopsticks in hand. A flap opens from the kitchen and you can see that yari ika you’ve had your eye on making its way around the corner—the kind…
Gyoza
First you fry your dumpling on a frying pan until it’s crispy and brown on one side. Then you fill the pot with water and cover it with a lid, steaming the top of the dumpling. Then you take a…
Types Of Japanese Noodles
How would your mother, who always told you to mind your manners at the dinner table, feel about you noisily slurping a bowl of noodles? If she were a Japanese chef, she’d be flattered! In Japan, noodles are everywhere you…
Sake
Instead of holding onto the handle of a tall cold, glass mug, you take a sip of the nation’s favorite pastime alcoholic beverage from a small cylindrical ceramic cup that fits between your index finger and your thumb. After just…
Miso
What if each morning instead of that bowl of cereal or that plate of bacon, toast, and eggs, you started your day off with a salad, some fish, a mountain of rice, and a bowl of soup made with things…