Tomorrow (Friday, December 23) is the Emperor’s Birthday (天皇誕生日) – a Japanese national holiday! The date is determined by the reigning Emperor’s birthdate, Akihito,  who was born on this date in 1933. The 23rd has been observed as a National Holiday since Emperor Akihito acceded the throne, in 1989. On this occasion, a public ceremony takes […]

Something people mention when speaking of why they want to experience Japan is the appeal of understanding such a unique culture to their own.

Studying for the JLPT N3? After working through ‘Minna no Nihongo’, gloriously passing JLPT levels N5 or N4 and mastering the basic grammar needed to order your favourite sushi, your next step should be to level up to JLPT N3. This level is described as ‘the ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations. Looking […]

What a year! Time flies and here we are, preparing Coto Japanese Academy’s End Of The Year Party! What sort of year was 2016 for you? We’ve already introduced the custom of celebrating the past’s year events (忘年会).忘年会 is a word composed of ‘to forget’ (忘), ‘year’ (年) and ‘gathering’ (会). This yearly tradition is very important in Japanese […]

Is 2017 the year for Japanese? 2017 is just around the corner, what kind of year will it be for you? If you’re ready to step-up your Japanese skills, our intensive course Year End Christmas Special is the right choice for you! Our intensive courses range from basic conversation for everyday use, to business Japanese for making your next […]

This is an older post – to see our upcoming monthly events – click here Monthly Events at Coto We are planning the following events in December 2016. Please send your request for participation to info@cotoacademy.com! Lunch Tour in Kagurazaka Thursday, December 1 Have you ever been to Kagurazaka? It is an enchanting neighborhood located […]

Did you know Japan also celebrates a Labor Thanksgiving Day? The Japanese government established this public national holiday in 1948 after the World War II. This holiday, taking place annually on November 23, commemorates people’s hard work. On that day, called 勤労感謝（きんろうかんしゃ）の日（ひ） in Japanese, people are encouraged to express their thanks to others. In particular, elementary children […]

Have you ever heard the expression “yuuki yomeru” (空気読める – “to read the air”) in Japanese? Ever stumbled across the expression “Kuuki Yomenai”? This Japanese slang is literally translated as “cannot read the air” and jokingly applies to people who struggle to read social situations. Reading The AtmosphereKuuki Yomenai and Social AwkwardnessHow NOT to be KY? Reading […]

How do you express your emotions in Japanese? If you’re learning Japanese, it’s helpful to know how to let other know what you’re feeling. We’ve gathered a quick list of essential words that might come in handy. Nevertheless, don’t worry about memorizing too much! Japanese Verbs to Express Emotion Happiness 笑（わら）う – laugh 褒（ほ）める – encourage […]

You cannot travel in Japan without hearing at least a story or two about Japanese scary spirits. Are you aware that indeed, Japan is surrounded by a mythology of ancient traditions and superstitions? Each culture in the world has its own folklore about ghosts and spirits, but Japan can certainly be very proud of all […]