As we transition into the bitter cold of winter, and you’re stuck inside with a hot cup of cocoa under a fuzzy blanket, you have plenty of time to check out the new Japanese learning resources from November!

This month we found some solid apps and… …continue reading

    

Did you know there are quite a few Japanese words that don’t translate exactly into English? Some of them are quite similar to English concepts, or can be explained in English with only a few words. However, other Japanese words have concepts and meanings completly non-exisitant in the English language! Here’s our list of 15 words that do not exactly exist in the English vocabulary.

Shibui (シブい )

Meaning: Has good old taste, in a cool way. This adjective can not be used for young people or things. It is only used to describe people or things that have aged well, and remain cool and attractive.

Shouganai (しょうがない)

Meaning: It can’t be helped, so don’t worry about it. If something regrettable happens that is outside of your control, don’t stress! Just say shouganai, it can’t be helped.

Sugoi (すごい )

Meaning: This word has so many words in English that are used similarly to this, such as, “Wow”, “superb”, “wonderful”, “fabulous”, “great”, “marvelous”, and “amazing”. In English , there is not one single word to convey all of these things, but in Japanese, they are all expressed by crying out sugoi!

Komorebi (木漏れ日)

Meaning: Sunlight filtering through trees. In Japanese, the way sunlight shines through the leaves of trees is given its own noun, and it’s called komorebi.

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. (よろしくおねがいします。)

Meaning: When meeting someone, it’s similar to “nice to meet you”. But this phrase is also used when you ask someone to do a task, of a way of saying “thanks for letting me ask this of you.”

Example: Good morning! Do you mind starting the second page of the website today? Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!

Kouyou (紅葉)

Meaning: The leaves changing colors in the …continue reading

    

December is a great time to visit Japan because the variety of magical winter events is unlike anything you can find the rest of the year! The nights light up with winter illuminations all across the country, and there are also a number of Christmas celebrations and markets to enjoy as well. And finally, at the end of the month, Japan loves to end the year on a high note with several fun, popular countdowns. Here are our top 10 events happening in Japan in December 2018.

1. Chichibu Yomatsuri (秩父夜祭)

The annual Chichibu Night Festival is one of Japan’s greatest hikiyama (float) festivals, as it draws about 400,000 visitors over the course of two days. There are fireworks and other events on December 2nd in the evening, but the highlight of the festival is on December 3rd. On this day, four massive hikiyama floats along with two smaller kasaboko floats are paraded through the streets of Chichibu. In the afternoon, stages are pulled out from the main floats and feature incredible kabuki performances. At night, the floats are lit by hundreds of lanterns, and with the accompaniment of drum music, the floats are pulled up Dango Hill beneath a fireworks display that lights up the night sky. This festival has over 300 years of history and was registered as an “ UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage” in 2016.

WHERE: Chichibu Shrine, Saitama

WHEN: Dec 2 – 3, 2018

WEBSITE: https://www.japanistry.com/event/chichibu-yomatsuri/

2. Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ)

The Kobe Luminarie is a winter light-up held every December in Kobe, Japan, in memory of the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Every night for the 10 days which it is held, the entire street turns into a wonderland of tunnels and structures lit by over 200,000 lights. The color scheme and pattern design changes every …continue reading

    

1. Tokyo’s Kanda Matsuri (神田祭)

This is one of Tokyo’s three most famous festivals, along with the Sanno Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. It takes place in mid-May in odd numbered years, alternating with the Sanno Matsuri, which is held in even numbered years.

Kanda Matsuri originated during the Edo Period. Tokugawa began to rule the country from Edo (present-day Tokyo), and the festival was celebrated as a demonstration of prosperity under the new regime. At the time, the Kanda Matsuri and the Sanno Matsuri were the only two festivals that were allowed to pass through the Edo Castle grounds. Both were originally held annually, but after competition grew incredibly intense, they were eventually ordered to be held in alternating years.

Today, Tokyo’s Kanda Matsuri consists of numerous events held over an entire week, and is attended by millions of people. The highlights are a day-long procession through central Tokyo on Saturday, and parades of portable mikoshi shrines by the various neighborhoods on Sunday.

When: Middle of May on the even-numbered years

Where: Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo

Website: https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/EV029/

2. Osaka’s Tenjin Festival (天神祭)

This is another one of Japan’s three greatest festivals, held every year at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, which is located in the heart of Osaka City. It originated back in the 10th century, in the year 951, as a celebration dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the Japanese deity of scholarship and learning. The two-day festival features a lively procession through the city, with musical performances and dancers. The main event of the festival takes place on the second day, with a procession of boats on the river and massive fireworks as the grand finale.

When: Middle of May on the even-numbered years

Where: Tenmangu Shrine, …continue reading