Apples and oranges. Walking and running. Swiftly and slowly. In English, connecting ideas is usually as simple as inserting the word “and” between two items. But in Japanese, expressing “and” is a bit more nuanced.  In fact, the language offers multiple ways to connect words, phrases, and even full sentences. This depends on what you’re […]

The phrases, ittekimasu, itterasshai, tadaima, okaerinasai symbolize so well Japanese spirit that once you grasp the nuance of their meaning you will have a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.

Hiragana, katakana, and kanji make up the Japanese writing system. When you start learning Japanese, figuring out how to read and write can feel overwhelming; after all, Japanese is completely different from the Roman alphabet! You then learn that there are three different writing systems used all at once. How is that even possible? Not […]

Congratulations! Whether it’s something you’ve achieved or a win for someone you care about, celebrating life’s big and small moments is a universal experience. Acknowledging these moments verbally is just as important. The most common way to say “congratulations” in Japanese is おめでとう (omedetou). But just like in English, there are many other ways to […]

Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese. Japan is known for many great things: fresh food at convenience stores, high-tech bidet toilets, and an amazing transportation system. Cheap […]

If you’ve spent any amount of time in Japan, you’ve probably noticed that point cards are everywhere. Almost every shop, big or small, has its own point card system.

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably wondering: “Is Coto Academy Online legit?” Don’t worry, we get it. When it comes to learning Japanese online, you want to be sure you’re investing your time and money wisely. Rest assured, we’re completely legitimate. But we also want to give you the full picture so you can feel […]

Ah, autumn. The leaves are changing into brilliant reds and yellows, the air is starting to get crisp with cold, and the fluffy scarves and coats of yesteryear are emerging. It’s times like these that we start to crave those warm and familiar Japanese autumn foods. For most of us, pumpkin pie, apple cider, or […]

Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese. If you’ve ever wandered through a Japanese neighborhood, you’ve likely noticed something distinctly local: rows of laundry swaying in the breeze […]

Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese. Today, Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei from Coto Academy take on a puzzling question: why is voter turnout in Japan so low? In […]