Saying ‘no’ in Japan is a tricky subject. The Japanese will rarely give a direct no to an answer, preferring instead to give an indirect answer that conveys the message of no.

Have you ever wondered what Japanese train announcements actually mean? Check out our guide below to help you before traveling to Japan!

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 […]

Want to learn some of Japan’s no-no words? We’ll be going over some of Japan’s Swear Words that you probably should not be using. They can range from kind of insulting to you’ll get punched if you say this. Read on to learn more!

Although the Japanese monarchy still exists, its role today is largely symbolic—much like the royal family in the United Kingdom. Even so, the Imperial Household continues to observe important traditions, including the celebration of the reigning emperor’s birthday. This occasion is marked by a national holiday known as the Emperor’s Birthday (天皇誕生日, Tennō Tanjōbi). Under […]

A Coto Radio listener asked a question on why their Japanese friend didn’t say a word while they were enjoying their lunch, prompting the question, “Why are Japanese people so silent?” While Japanese people are known for being well-mannered and polite, their silence at certain times may surprise many non-Japanese. This could lead to cultural […]

Did you know that Japan has a second Valentine’s Day called White Day? In Japan, Valentine’s Day has a bit of a twist; the original Valentine’s Day (on February 14) is for women to give chocolates or small gifts to men. These can range from giri-choco (obligatory chocolates for colleagues or friends) to honmei-choco (romantic […]

There are many reasons you might want to study Japanese: maybe you want to move to Japan someday or make Japanese friends. Maybe you even want to understand your favorite Japanese anime. But then there’s an issue: you might not have the resources to take an in-person lesson, maybe because there isn’t one nearby, or […]