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.

Japanese proverbs, or ことわざ (kotowaza), are a great way to spice up and improve your language skills with more figurative speech. Exploring outside the typical methods of memorizing kanji and vocabulary, kotowaza can teach you how to use more nuanced phrases.  Plus, they can help you dive deeper into Japanese culture. Kotowaza paint a picture […]

We’ve already presented the Japanese slang “nanpa” and “gyakunan” to describe flirting with someone – in particular on the street. This time, let’s get more serious and develop important words for dating in Japanese. Whether you live in Japan for a short time or for a few years, you never know what might happen. Who […]

From traditional martial arts rooted in its culture like Judo and Karate to modern sports like kickboxing, Japan is one of the best places to train in combat sports.

Are you going to live in Japan? Better prepare yourself with a Japanese self-introduction, or a jikoshoukai. Early in your Japanese study, this language knowledge will help you establish yourself among Japanese friends and colleagues. You will need to introduce yourself in Japanese in various contexts (such as school, work, parties, etc.). What should you […]

In Japanese, you can say Happy New Year with various expressions, so let’s get familiar with a few phrases.

This is an older post – to see our upcoming monthly events – click here Monthly Events at Coto   Every month we hold cultural and social events for our students and their friends to discover more about Japanese culture, meet new friends and practice Japanese. We are looking forward to seeing you there! Lunch […]

Wondering Magokoro meaning and how Japanese people use it? Worry not, we are here to help you. Magokoro: a true heart – a heart with no deception or a façade – Sincerity. “To put your heart in a gift”. “Devote one’s heart to something.” Right after I graduated from a university, I landed my first […]

Horyu-ji is a temple in Nara that was built around 1,300 years ago. It is said to be the oldest surviving example of wooden architecture (buildings made of wood) in the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple’s five story pagoda (tower) is an especially famous building. This pagoda has stood for […]

This is an older post – to see our upcoming monthly events – click here Monthly Events at Coto Japanese Every month we hold cultural and social events for our students and their friends to discover more about Japanese culture, meet new friends and practice Japanese. We are looking forward to seeing you there! Lunch […]