Learning Japanese is one of the best things you can do to enrich your life and increase your chances of career success in Japan. However, learning a new language demands a significant amount of time. Factor…
Recommended Articles |
Changing the Negative Perception of Organic Farming in Japan
Masamichi Higa and his wife Sara are the owners of Higa Farm, where they grow organic vegetables that they deliver to their customers as set boxes every week. Organic farming is still something new and misunderstood in…
JR East Japan Station Work: Your Office on the Go
Although Japan’s population continues to decline, the same cannot be said about Tokyo. Despite the government’s best efforts, the nation’s economy is increasingly centralized in its sprawling capital city. This situation is palpable in Tokyo’s packed…
The Problem With Joshiryoku
I am looking at women’s magazines at the convenience store. On the cover of one of them, I can read, “Improve your joshiryoku!” I am in a long meeting. One of my colleagues has prepared snacks and…
Our Online Talk About Japan Money Matters
This time the Kokoro Media team shares their experiences with money in Japan! We talk about the cost of living, how to save money, and the differences between our spending habits in Japan and in other…
Eat Fugu and Live to Tell the Tale
For any foodie visiting Japan, eating fugu should be on their list of must-eat foods, since it’s next-to-impossible to have in other countries. Usually, that would involve a trip to an expensive, high-end restaurant. Unless you…
Small Talk across Cultures: Adjusting to Office Life in Tokyo
When I was in college, I worked at a video game store in one of the largest shopping malls in southern California. There I learned the ins and outs of the retail business: customer service, inventory…
Kasia on How to Discover Your Purpose in Life and Help Others Do the Same
The Japanese concept of ikigai can be defined as one’s “reason for living” or “purpose in life.” Living in accordance to your ikigai results in a sense of fulfillment. Kasia, founder of Ikigai Connections, has taken…
Tsukimi, the Moon Festival
Praying to the Harvest Moon As it is often depicted in Japanese pop culture, manga, anime, or video games, you may have already heard about ”tsukimi,” or more formally “otsukimi,” literally “moon viewing.” It is the most emblematic celebration in…
My Japanese Supermarket Culture Shocks
After living in a different country for many years, you adapt to the local lifestyle and tend to forget the things that surprised you in the first place. The last time I went to my home…