Fish for Breakfast: The Classic Japanese Breakfast
In the West, the classic breakfast could include pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausage, bacon, orange juice, milk, cereal, or hash browns—or maybe if we’re in a…
Nanpa: A Special Kind of Flirting in Japan
Last week we discussed goukon, group dating, in Japan. To continue in the same vein, this week we’ll discuss “nanpa,” sometimes called “nampa.” Nanpa roughly…
Yakitori: Skewered Meat
During the Edo era, which lasted from 1604 to 1868, yakitori became a delicacy made with the meat of pricey wild birds, like quails, ducks,…
Tsukemono: Pickled Foods
When discussing Japanese food in the past, we’ve mentioned foods like umeboshi (pickled “plums,” as they’re often called, although the fruit is actually closer to…
Ueno: Museums, a Park and a Zoo
In the east area of Tokyo, another of Tokyo’s wards, Taitou, is home to Ueno, a famous destination for tourists and Japanese culture enthusiasts alike.…
News of Immigrant Exploitation in Japan
The New York Times recently profiled a group of immigrants in Japan who are facing discrimination, unfair wages and unfair hours at their places of…
Donburi: Rice Bowl Meals
In Japan, eating donburi is an easy way to warm up on a cold winter day–or just to enjoy a flavorful, hot dish whenever the…
Anime, Manga, Video Games and the Non-Existent Youth Bill
On December 15th, the Tokyo Assembly (part of the local government) approved Bill 156, a reworking of an earlier-proposed bill referred to as “the Non-Existent…
Jankenpon: Rock, Paper, Scissors
Since what we know in the West as “Rock, Paper, Scissors” (or “Stone, Paper, Scissors”) was developed in China, it shouldn’t be a surprise to…
~Hou Ga Ii Desu: It Is Better…
How would you give advice when speaking Japanese? Depending on the context, you could tell someone that “it is better to… [do this.]” The Japanese…
Japanese Devastation: Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Reactors and Economic Peril
The past few days have seen Japan splashed across international headlines as the Japanese deal with the effects of the world’s 5th most powerful earthquake…
Japanese Suffixes, Part 2
Today we’re continuing our lesson on Japanese suffixes by going over a couple more important suffixes in the Japanese language. Sensei Sensei is a suffix…