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…
3 Hacks to Better Keigo
Keigo—perhaps nothing strikes more fear in learners of Japanese than this intricate system of formality. It requires a mind shift to adjust to, but once you have the ropes, with enough practice, you too can become a keigo master. If you need a refresher, keigo is an honorific speech in Japanese. It can be divided…
The 3 Best Japanese Podcasts to Advance Your Translation Skills
Quick! How do you say…? Translation can make your head spin, especially when pairing two languages like English and Japanese that are from completely separate linguistic families. However, just because it takes effort doesn’t mean the art of translation can’t be fun! Podcasts are a fantastic resource for language learning, accessible to anyone with a…
The Small Peanut Butter Company That Wants to Inspire Japan
Go Nakano is the CEO and a founder member of Happy Nuts Day, a company that produces peanut butter made with peanuts from Chiba Prefecture. Go used to work for a big advertising company but decided to leave and create Happy Nuts Day with his skateboarding friends. His aim: to build a company and create…
International Entrepreneur John Wolff and the Power of Japanese Pop Culture
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…
This Father and Son Innovate Traditional Japanese Sake Making
Keisuke and Rui Izumi are brewers at Manaturu Brewery, a 270-year-old brewery located in Echizen Ono, the “Little Kyoto” of Fukui Prefecture. Its location is famous for its crystal-clear water and snowy winters, two elements that allow making excellent sake. Manaturu Brewery takes pride in doing most of the sake-making process by hand. But do…
Build a Business in Japan: Advice from 3 International Entrepreneurs
Most startup founders and industry experts agree that cultural and technological shifts in Japan have made entrepreneurship more attractive and accessible than ever before. Regardless, launching an enterprise is rife with challenges, especially if you’re doing so in a country and culture other than your own. In this article, I share the stories of three…
Meet Anthony Griffin, Kokoro Media Writer and Businessman in Japan
Anthony Griffin is a U.S. citizen who has been living in Japan since 2009. Passionate about Japanese culture since a young age, his visits to the country as an adult convinced him to try and live here. It was the beginning of an adventure during which Japan inspired him to test his own limits and…
The Japanese Generation Z
These last two years, I have come across many articles about the generational gaps between the baby boomers, the millennials, and generation Z. This has made me wonder how the Japanese generation Z is perceived by older generations and what changes they are bringing to society. Here is what I have found. A Different Work-Life Balance…