News and resources

Hiragana Chart & Quiz Online: Free Japanese Resource

Want to learn Japanese hiragana? In this blog, we share our own PDF learning Hiragana practice sheets and links to some popular apps for learning Japanese. Just started learning Japanese? Head to our main article about the Japanese writing system for a more comprehensive guide! Apps for Learning Hiragana If you are just getting started […]

hiragana chart writing

Key Differences Between Chinese vs Japanese Languages

While China and Japan may be relatively close geographically and both shape today’s cultural, economic, business, and pop culture landscapes, the Chinese and Japanese languages have clear distinctions. The Chinese language is estimated to be spoken by more than one-fifth of the world’s population. Japanese, on the other hand, is primarily spoken in Japan. And […]

chinese vs japanese language

How to Order And Customize Your Coffee in Japanese

Nothing beats the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning, but if you know anything about Japan, it is that they take their coffee culture seriously, almost to the same respect reserved for tea ceremonies. However, before you can sip on your choice of coffee in your favorite coffee shop, whether it is in […]

Image of a latte; how to order coffee in Japanese

2025 Year-End Japanese Lesson Sale! Up to 10% Off at Coto Academy

As the year comes to a close, Coto Academy is bringing the holiday cheer early! From November 1 until December, new and continuing students can enjoy up to 10% off on select course packages when they make a purchase within the campaign period, regardless of when they start their classes. Whether you’re just beginning or […]

year end campaign coto academy

8 Ways to Say “And” in Japanese: と, や, そして and More

Apples and oranges. Walking and running. Swiftly and slowly. In English, connecting ideas is usually as simple as inserting the word “and” between two items. But in Japanese, expressing “and” is a bit more nuanced.  In fact, the language offers multiple ways to connect words, phrases, and even full sentences. This depends on what you’re […]

and in japanese

Japanese Kanji Emojis: What Do They Actually Mean?

You’ve probably seen them before — tiny block symbols with Japanese characters that sneak into your Android or iPhone emoji keyboard. They look official, almost cryptic. These aren’t random at all. They’re part of the Japanese Kanji emoji series. But why do these even exist to begin with? Well, here’s something interesting: the word emoji […]

Close-up of Japanese and Chinese kanji flashcards showing stroke order and meanings, commonly used to learn character writing — symbolizing the link between kanji and emoji meanings.