When reading the small “tsu,” shorten the preceding vowel slightly and then start with the sound of the subsequent consonant. Read more
Hitting up the local convenience store before or after work can wind up becoming habitual, and there are a number of grammar points to help describe it. Read more
Hiring for new recruits usually takes place in time for an April start, but Japanese companies are increasingly looking to hire in the autumn. Read more
Japanese people tend to travel to their hometowns around this time of year, and asking where they went is an easy conversation starter. Read more
After staying indoors during the cold winter months, things can start to feel a little stale. So, kicking 春 (haru, spring) off with an 大掃除 (ōsōji, big clean up) is a good way to refresh your... Read more
If there is one kanji you’re likely to see around April, it would be “新” (shin/ atara[shii]/ara[ta]/nii), which means “new.” Read more
“Convenience Store Human” by Sayaka Murata. Sound unfamiliar? That’s the literal title of the smash-hit 2016 novel “コンビニ人間” (konbini ningen). When it appeared in English less than two years... Read more
Last year, two of my friends went through 離婚 (rikon, divorces). Both told me they waited until their children became adults to avoid any legal troubles as it seems that a 国際離婚 (kokusai rikon... Read more
Late last year, my French husband told me he had been discussing what are considered the essential virtues of Japanese culture with the 偉い人 (erai hito, bigwigs) at his company. The one skill... Read more
Nov. 22 came around to being recognized as いい夫婦の日 (ii fūfu no hi, Good Couples Day) in Japan simply because of pronunciation. An old way of counting the number one as “hi” and the number two... Read more
