Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, was a paragon of productivity. According to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, his two terms in office (1953 to 1961) were filled with accomplishments that shaped the U.S. and the world. Highlights include signing the 1957 Civil Rights Act, authorizing the development of the Interstate Highway…
Unlocking the Power of Professional Networking in Japan: An Interview with Sayuri Nishimoto
Networking is like exercise—often something we’d rather avoid but necessary for enriching our lives. However, just as with exercise, you can learn to enjoy networking, with the right approach. Networking as a foreigner in Japan is especially nuanced, but fortunately, Sayuri Nishimoto, senior client solutions manager at LinkedIn, agreed to share her advice on bridging…
How to Choose the Right Digital Flashcard App for Studying Japanese
Digital flashcard applications are a popular and effective way to study Japanese kanji and vocabulary. However, not all flashcard applications are created equal. Reviewing flashcards in a random or sequential order is not the most effective way to learn. You need an application that can leverage the power of spaced repetition to quiz you on…
2 Japanese Expressions to Help You Build Better Relationships in Your Community
In a previous article, I wrote about how, in Japan, it can be difficult to engage in small talk with those outside of your immediate social circles. However, if you’ve just moved to Japan, or to a new neighborhood in Japan, getting to know the people you see on a regular basis is a great…
Optimize Your Japanese Studies by Learning from the World around You
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, Japanese textbooks can be a valuable resource when you’re starting out with the language. However, it’s important to remember that most textbooks are designed for an academic setting. If you have recently moved to Japan and are just starting to pick up the language, you’ll need to approach Japanese…
How to Carve Your Own Career Path in the Translation Industry: An Interview with Richard Berger
In the spring of 2021, I participated in a Laurasian Institution panel discussion on launching Japan-related careers. One of the most common follow-up questions I received after the discussion was, “How can I build a career in Japanese-English translation?” I did my best to answer these questions at the time. However, even though I speak…
How to Survive (and Eventually Thrive) in Japan’s Sweltering Summer Season
Summer in Japan—Tokyo in particular—is infamous for being unbearably humid. However, if you find yourself in one of the country’s hot spots during this season, all hope is not lost. In this Kokoro Media Unfiltered discussion, we share several tips on how to make the most of this time of the year (after a little…
The Power of Japanese Pop Culture: An Interview with International Entrepreneur John Wolff
It’s no secret that Japanese pop culture, especially video games, influenced me from a young age. In fact, my initial college major was computer science, chosen with the goal of creating my own games. Unfortunately, by the time I entered college, the initial era of the self-made game creator was a thing of the past….
3 Inspiring Business and Career Lessons from a Year of Kokoro Media Interviews
July 2021 marked the 1st anniversary of Kokoro Media. Ordinarily, this might not be a big deal, however, considering the circumstances that gave birth to the brand, this is a moment worth reflecting on. Over the past year, our readership has expanded, and we are truly grateful for that. However, many of our new readers…
The Two Most Popular Ways to Achieve Japanese Literacy – Breaking Down (Over) Kanji Part 2
In the first part of this series, I outlined what it takes to become literate in Japanese, and like a mid-trilogy Hollywood movie, I ended up on a down note laced with a glimpse of hope. Although there are endless permutations of 2,136 joyo kanji characters to memorize before you can achieve Japanese literacy, there…