Primary colors in Japanese seem easy and straightforward, but you’d be surprised by how much culture and history go behind them.

In March and April, Japan welcomes cherry blossoms, otherwise known as sakura (桜). These soft pink and white flowers are said to be true harbingers of spring, as seeing one signifies the end of winter. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city of Tokyo, as the metropolis is full of places for viewing […]

If you have Japanese artist friends, plan to study art, or pursue a career in art in Japan, then you might want to know some Japanese vocabulary related to arts — more specifically, visual art. Japan has a rich history in the arts, from the ukiyo-e works of Hokusai to more recent manga and anime. […]

With Japan being the motherland of anime, it’s unsurprising that many real-life locations have inspired our favorite anime scenes. Recently, the phenomenon of people visiting anime-inspired places, or locations dedicated to anime, has been gaining popularity. This trend is known as an anime pilgrimage. So what are the top places to visit in Japan for […]

You might already learn that there are many ways to say “no” in Japanese, but did you know that Japanese people themselves never directly use the word “no” in conversations? Why is this the case? And is there another way that Japanese people say that two-letter word?  In this episode, we’ll take a look at […]

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 […]