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 […]

As the weather cools and the Japanese landscape transforms into a colorful mosaic of golden ginkgo and red maple trees, what does Japan’s booming capital have in store for us? Tokyo in the fall is perhaps one of the best times to plan picnics or trips around the city, as the weather is just right […]

When you start learning Japanese — or at least reading Japanese words — you’ll come across romaji first before hiragana or katakana.

Ganbare (頑張れ) or ganbatte (頑張って) is a Japanese phrase that means “Come on!” “Let’s go!” or “Go for it!” in English.

If you’ve ever lived in Japan and handled paperwork in the city hall, you might have stumbled across a date that made you pause. Instead of 2025, you see something like 令和7年 (Reiwa 7). This isn’t a typo. It’s Japan’s unique calendar system (和暦, wareki), where years are tied to the reign of each emperor. […]

Between paperwork, parking permits, and ongoing costs, there’s a lot to know before you start car shopping.