The place has recently become a pilgrimage spot for fans of the manga “Kimetsu no Yaiba” (“Demon Slayer” in English). Kids and cosplayers take their picture in front of this huge stone holding a sword, just like the main character Tanjiro at the end of his training. It is true that the mysterious stone called…
Valentine’s Day in Japan: How and Why Do Japanese Women Give Chocolates to Men?
Giving Chocolate to the Man You Love In some countries, Valentine’s Day is a special day when lovers give gifts to each other, or men offer flowers and other presents to their sweetheart. In Japan, it is customary that women offer chocolates to men, who only receive the gifts. Valentine’s Day is the busiest season for…
5 Adventurous Activities to Enjoy on Hachijojima, the “Hawaii of Japan”
A visit to Hachijojima, an island nearly 300 kilometers south of Tokyo, is the perfect weekend getaway. It’s far enough from the big city to truly escape into nature yet close enough to be thoroughly enjoyed over a three-day weekend. In this article, I’ll explain how to reach the island, introduce the top five activities…
10 Expressions You Need to Know before Drinking in Japan
Gathering around food and drinks in an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) to smooth relationships (including and especially work-related ones) is an important part of Japanese culture nicknamed ”nomunication.” Joining Japanese people at the izakaya is a good way to break the ice and get to know them better. If you go to small, five- or six-seat places,…
Casting Evil Away: The Japanese Celebration of Setsubun
The characters for setsubun in Japanese are 節分, literally meaning “season division.” This celebration traditionally takes place on February 3rd, one day before spring according to the lunar calendar. In older times, spring used to be the New Year, so setsubun can be understood as a form of ancient New Year’s Eve. To welcome the new year…
What “Hatsuyume,” the First Dream of the Year, Means for the Japanese
In Japan, hatsuyume is literally the first dream you have after December 31st and is said to predict your fortune for the coming year. Traditionally, lucky dreams involve Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant, in that order. The combination looks a bit peculiar, but each element is a homonym for positive words in Japanese….
The Nengajo Postcard: How Japanese People Send Their Best Wishes for New Year
Japanese people exchange nengajo postcards as New Year greetings, much like Western people sending Christmas cards to each other. New Year Greetings in Japan In Japan, it was a long-established custom to personally present your greetings to people who had helped you and to your superiors at the beginning of the year. They gave thanks…
The 5 Most Effective Flash Card Programs for Learning Japanese
Everyone who studies Japanese uses different methods, techniques, and tools to achieve mastery. However, ask around, and you’ll find that most learners consistently recommend one tool in particular: digital flash cards—specifically software with an effective Spaced Repetition System (SRS). Over the past decade, I’ve used all kinds of flash cards (even the old-school paper ones)…
Omisoka and O-Shogatsu: The Japanese Year-End and New Year’s Holidays
The New Year, called “O-Shogatsu” in Japanese, is a traditionally very important holiday for Japanese people. In ancient times, January used to be early spring according to the lunar calendar. It was the season when everything started flourishing again. Like in many other cultures, people gathered and wished each other a prosperous year. Today’s Japanese…
The Kadomatsu Decoration, Traditional of the Japanese New Year’s Holiday
Kadomatsu is a decoration with three cut pieces of bamboo and pine for the Japanese New Year’s holiday. After Christmas, you will see this decoration at the entrances of houses and buildings in Japan. The Role of Kadomatsu Decorations Kadomatsu is the landmark for the Shinto deity Toshigami-sama to enter your home. In Japan, it is believed…