Grammar Sentence Structure
The Japanese language is structured quite differently from English. However, while it may take a little getting used to, basic Japanese sentence structure is simple…
Kanji
Kanji 漢字 is the third Japanese writing system you’ll need to study. Kanji became widely used in Japan during the 6th century CE, although it…
Katakana
Katakana is the second of the two scripts exclusive to the Japanese language. Like hiragana, katakana consists of a total of 46 basic characters that…
Aidoru: The Japanese “Idol”
American Idol may have gotten North American audiences used to the idea of putting a person plucked from obscurity on a pedestal for his or…
Hiragana
Hiragana is one of two scripts exclusive to the Japanese language and is the more frequently used of the two. Japanese kanji, the common pictographic…
Nagoya: Golden Dolphins and the Legendary Sword
Perhaps best known globally for its short-listed (failed) bid for the 1988 Summer Olympics, Nagoya is the 4th most populated city in Japan with about…
Osaka: The Home of Cuisine and Comedy, Part 1
About 325 miles west of Tokyo in the Kansai south central region of the main island of Japan is Osaka, Japan’s second most populated city…
Japanese Television: Dorama
In the U.S., the goal of virtually every television show is to get renewed for another season. The successful shows are renewed for a total…
Kobe: Mountains, Business, and Beef
With about 1.5 million people, Kobe is Japan’s 6th most populous city. Located in the Hyogo prefecture, Kobe is nestled along the coastline approximately 310…
Karaoke: More than Just a Sing-Along
Karaoke may not be an exclusive activity to Japan—nor was it necessarily originated in Japan—but the name itself demonstrates how widespread and influential the activity…
Introductions Part 2: Occupation, Nationality and Greeting Phrase
After you’ve stated your name, you have the option of giving your occupation and nationality, but you don’t have to if you don’t think it’s…
Onigiri: A Simple Way to Eat Rice
While in the West, you might pack or grab a sandwich when you want to eat on-the-go, in Japan, you may grab a rice ball,…