Coto Japanese Academy, one of Tokyo’s leading Japanese-language schools, is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth physical campus in Shinjuku, scheduled for April 2026. 

After mastering hiragana, one of the three Japanese writing systems, the natural next step is to learn katakana, the second Japanese syllabary. Commonly used to write loanwords, katakana represent the same set of sounds as hiragana, but they look completely different. Katakana characters are typically boxier and more geometric, with sharp corners, in contrast to […]

The grammar pattern 〜らしい is used to express information that is not directly confirmed by the speaker. In English, it can mean “it seems like,” “apparently,” “I heard that,” or “it looks like.” Although 〜らしい may seem simple at first, it actually has a wide range of meanings and is used in different situations. Depending […]

The JLPT N3 grammar もし〜たなら (moshi ~ tanara) is a useful phrase for expressing conditional statements. Its meaning is close to “if” or “in the case of,” the phrase is often used for the following situations: Continue reading to learn its meaning, structure, and example sentences, each with Japanese, romaji, and English translation! Make Sure […]

The JLPT N3 Grammar, に決まっている (ni kimatte iru), is a versatile phrase you can use to express that you are certain about something or that something is bound to be or happen. It is similar to the English expressions: surely, certainly, it must be, or bound to. It is often used to: Learn its meaning, […]

If you work in Japan, chances are you have been invited to and participated in a bonenkai (忘年会)? They are Japan’s high-spirited parties, usually held at bars or izakayas with plenty of drinks, to celebrate the end of the year in Japan. Instead of a family-focused event, it is often the time to celebrate with […]

Discover unique and funny Kansai-ben phrases with meanings and examples. Learn how locals in Osaka and Kyoto really speak Japanese.

Did you know Japanese people have a tradition not to cook on the first few days of January? Instead, they prepae and eat ‘osechi ryori’ in December.