Otsukaresama desu is a key phrase that you will need to master if you plan to work in a Japanese office.

Preparing for the JLPT N3 in 2025? This intermediate level is a significant milestone on your Japanese language journey, bridging the gap between beginner and advanced proficiency. Before you dive into studying for the JLPT N3, you’ll need the right textbooks to guide you. With so many options out there, choosing the best ones can […]

Besides its high-tech cities, rich traditions, and delicious food, Japan’s four seasons are equally unmatched and deserve as much attention as matcha and sakura blossoms. There’s the crisp, colorful air of autumn during momiji (autumn leaves) season, the hot and humid summer days perfect for the beach, and everything in between.  What better way to […]

There’s only “me”, “myself” and “I” in English, but when it comes to Japanese first-person pronouns, the options are seemingly endless.

On this episode of Coto Radio, Mr. Nagai is joined by teacher Hidari to talk about traveling in Japan, anime pilgrimage, and overtourism.

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.

Have you ever needed to convert your birth year, written in Western years, to Japanese years? 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 […]