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 […]

Between paperwork, parking permits, and ongoing costs, there’s a lot to know before you start car shopping.

Planning to drive in Japan? Even if you’re just walking or cycling, it’s important to recognize key traffic and street signs to stay safe. Japan’s road signs combine international symbols with unique designs shaped by local traffic laws, which can make them confusing at times. Whether you’re planning a road trip, studying to get a […]

When are the summer festivals in Tokyo, and where can you find them? How many are there in Tokyo? Read our full guide here!

Discover the latest Japanese courses opening in the coming months at Coto Academy’s four physical locations and our online school.

Check out our comprehensive list of country names in Japanese, covering as many nations as possible.

Learning Japanese has never been easy. From memorizing vocabulary and new writing systems to studying different grammar structures, the road to fluency is a long and difficult journey filled with struggles and challenges. The truth is, it’s perfectly fine — essential, even — to make mistakes when learning Japanese or any language. Every slip-up is […]