Let’s talk about shaving–and to me, no conversation about shaving is complete without discussions of socialization. Yes, in Japan, many women also shave their faces. No, they don’t shave their faces as men do. I, too, sometimes shave my face. On the other hand, unlike the majority of my American and Japanese sisters, I haven’t…
Beginner Japanese Tip: Overcoming the Ambiguity of “Daijobu”
One of the more challenging aspects of learning Japanese is dealing with words that have multiple—often opposite—meanings. For beginners, one prominent example of this phenomenon is the word daijobu. Essentially, this word represents the concept of being “OK” or “all right.” For example, if you trip and fall in public, a passerby may ask, “daijobu…
How to Reduce Your Cost of Living in Japan and Thrive on a Tight Budget
There’s no beating around the bush: Japan is not a cheap place to live in Asia. Of course, especially compared to many European and North American countries, Japan’s cost of living is not particularly expensive either. Japan is experiencing inflation, but it’s significantly lower than that experienced by other high-income countries. Currently, the yen is…
The Best Advanced Japanese Language Podcasts to Learn Something New about the World in 2022
I am a huge fan of podcasts, but as an advanced Japanese speaker, sometimes I have struggled to find engaging content at the right level in Japanese. I consider myself fluent, but of course, I am not native. I also admit that my reading ability is much stronger than my listening. I can read a…
Why the Japanese Nintendo 3DS Is an Amazing Device for Learning Japanese
In my ongoing (and perhaps never-ending) quest to achieve full Japanese literacy, I’ve developed a reputation for being a digital flashcard addict. However, effective as they are, flashcards alone are not enough to become fully literate in Japanese (as friends and colleagues often remind me). Going beyond textbooks and immersing yourself in native Japanese content…
Japan’s 2022 Inflation Situation: A Brief Explainer
This past January, after spending a month outside of Japan, I was eager to get back into my usual routine, and that included dining at my favorite Tokyo restaurants. Be it a quick and affordable B-kyu gurume meal between meetings or a more expensive lunch with friends or colleagues, one thing soon became apparent: meal…
Free Wi-Fi Access Is Gradually Disappearing in Japan
Apart from the societal changes I have treated earlier on this website, changes in technology and services are also happening in Japan. In early June 2022, Tobu Railway (a railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area) terminated its free Wi-Fi services. Until then, trains used on the Tobu Skytree Line and Tojo Line provided free…
Join the Second Edition of Kokoro Conversations!
Dear reader, Why don’t you join us for the second edition of Kokoro Conversations? Kokoro Conversations are events in which you can get your voice heard and join fellow Kokoro Media readers for open-hearted conversations about the joys and the challenges of life in Japan. There, you can meet new people to exchange thoughts, compare…
Moving to Japan? Learn Katakana First.
If you’re moving to Japan (or even taking an extended vacation), you’ll want to start learning the language, including how to read. Register for a class or buy a coursebook. You’ll start first from hiragana, then katakana, and finally kanji. It’s a natural progression. Actually, it’s not. Or at least, not for everyone. Hear me…
Changing Perceptions of Marriage in Japan
On June 14, 2022, Japan’s Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office published a new report under the theme “Marriage and Family in the Age of 100 Years of Life: How to Face the Changing Shapes and Challenges of the Family.” The results, based on a governmental survey with responses from 20,000 people, have gathered the attention…