When you’re just starting to learn Japanese, which kanji should you tackle first?

The question that perplexes all Japanese learners at the beginning: Why is ha (は) read as wa in Japanese, sounding exactly the same as わ? We all thought Japanese phonetics were pretty straightforward, but just when you think you’ve nailed the hiragana and katakana writing systems, you come across this conundrum.  Of course, once you’re […]

Out of all Japanese particles that exist, the particle を (pronounced “o”) might be one of the most straightforward. The を particle is used to make a word the direct object of the sentence or the thing that is acted upon by the verb. There is no direct equivalent in English since the language doesn’t […]

It’s overwhelming to think about all the unique kanji you have to remember; however, there’s a little secret to making kanji much easier to remember called radicals. Let’s say it’s our radical solution to remembering kanji — no pun intended. Radicals are basically the building blocks of kanji; while there are seemingly endless amounts of […]

Politics is a topic many people prefer to avoid. Yet, whether we like it or not, it plays a fundamental role in shaping our society and everyday lives. If you live in Japan, do you know how Japan’s political system is shaped? Following the 2024 Minato Ward Mayor election, Coto Academy teachers Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei […]

The next JLPT will be held on December 2022. Ready to apply? Here’s a guide on how to reguster for the JLPT online.

How to count Japanese numerics on a base-ten system up to 100 million, write Japanese kanji for numbers and say Japanese counters.

What are some unwritten rules and things you should not do in Japan? Japanese people are known for being well-mannered and following their strict, subtle etiquette. But while Japanese people are non-confrontational, there is a set of “unwritten rules” that people expect you to follow. These rules are considered common sense and are one of […]